New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has been facing intense criticism on social media ever since the official schedule of the Asia Cup 2025 was released. The schedule confirmed that India and Pakistan have been placed in the same group for the tournament and will play against each other on September 14.
The Asia Cup 2025 will get underway on September 09, with India scheduled to lock horns with Pakistan in their second group-stage match. The idea of playing against Pakistan, merely three months after the Pahalgam terror attack, has sparked fury among the fans and the general Indian public, who have lashed out at the BCCI and the Indian government.
The announcement of the India-Pakistan clash has triggered massive backlash on social media, with many questioning the BCCI and the government’s stance on the matter. 26 people lost their lives in a terror attack in Pahalgam valley in Jammu & Kashmir in April this year. India and Pakistan were involved in a brief military showdown after the Indian armed forces carried out Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist infrastructure and hideouts inside Pakistan.
Ever since the Pahalagam terror attack, there have been calls for a complete boycott of cricketing ties with Pakistan. However, just three months after the attack, India is set to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. While BCCI is yet to address the matter amid massive outrage on social media, many have also requested the sports ministry to intervene.
But can the sports ministry stop the Indian cricket team from playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup? Technically, it might not be able to do so. The BCCI, as of now, is not under the purview of the sports ministry as it is an independent sporting body. Any decision regarding India’s participation in the Pakistan match or the Asia Cup will be taken by the Indian cricket board.
“As of now, the BCCI does not come under the purview of the sports ministry as the National Sports Governance Bill is still to be passed. So, the ministry doesn’t have a say, but we will wait and see how the BCCI responds to public sentiment,” a sports ministry source was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.
As per PTI, the National Sports Governance Bill, which was tabled in the Parliament last week, has a provision which allows the sports ministry to “impose reasonable restrictions” on the participation of Indian teams or athletes in international events when necessitated by “extraordinary circumstances” and in the “national interest.” However, the bill is yet to be passed and become an act.
Once the National Sports Governance Bill is approved and becomes an act, the BCCI will also come under the purview of the sports ministry. However, as of now, the ministry cannot bar the Indian cricket team from taking part in the Asia Cup clash against Pakistan. The sports ministry source added that the final call will rest with the BCCI in the matter.
“The scenario changes when that happens (National Sports Governance Bill passes). But as of now, it is status quo. It is the BCCI’s call,” added the source.
Will BCCI succumb to pressure?
The pressure is immense on the BCCI as calls for a complete boycott of Pakistan on the cricketing stage continue to grow louder with each passing day. It was not too long back that the Indian armed forces were at war with Pakistan and taking down missiles and drones regularly to safeguard Indian cities close to the India-Pakistan border across the north-west region of the country.
People have rightly not forgotten the perpetrators of the Pahalgam terror attack that claimed 26 innocent lives and called for no cricket with Pakistan in unison. It is worth noting that the Indian government has banned several prominent Pakistani social media handles and YouTube channels in India, while maintaining that Operation Sindoor is not over yet.
However, despite the government’s strong stance against Pakistan, the BCCI has agreed to let the Indian team play Pakistan in the Asia Cup, which has not gone down well with many and has sparked massive outrage across social media. It remains to be seen if BCCI will relent and pull out of the Pakistan clash or will the match go ahead as per schedule.