Asia Cup 2025: BCCI and Indian Government yet to finalize participation, confirms captain

Former Indian cricket team captain and Congress politician Mohammad Azharuddin has voiced against the idea of India facing Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. India and Pakistan are in the same group and will play on September 14 in the 2025 Asia Cup.

Since the Asia Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed the schedule for the upcoming subcontinental tournament, there has been huge debate and outrage among the Indian cricket fans and former cricketers, and now this matter has even reached Parliament.

Mohammad Azharuddin calls for a boycott of the Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025

National outrage following the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam and the ongoing Operation Sindoor has only intensified the public emotions across the country. And many political leaders, including Azharuddin, don’t want the sporting rivalry to continue amid such a tense situation.

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Read Also: Asia Cup 2025- India vs Pakistan match cancelled after schedule announcement

Recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly said at Parliament that India’s Operation Sindoor is still ongoing, and if Pakistan makes any move, they will not spare them. Following the debate in the Parliament over the issue, Mohammad Azharuddin questioned the timing of the high-voltage India versus Pakistan encounter in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.

The former Indian captain has further stressed that national interest must come before cricket. He admitted that India faces Pakistan only in the ICC and ACC tournaments, but the current situation demands a complete boycott, and the call lies with the BCCI and the Indian government.

I don't think the match should be played: Mohammad Azharuddin

Mohammad Azharuddin told SportsTak, “Personally, I feel this match should not take place. However, we are playing the ICC and ACC tournaments with Pakistan. But if you look at the situation, I don't think the match should be played. But at the end of the day, the decision of the Government of India and BCCI, if they meet and decide, I think that decision will be final. But my personal opinion is that when the situation is so bad, I don't think the match should be played.”

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What will happen if India boycotts Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025?

Meanwhile, if India decides not to play the Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan, the game won’t be called off or cancelled officially, as the tournament is being managed by the ACC. In such a case, the match will be treated as a forfeit.

Read Also: Asia Cup 2025: Operation Sindoor's ongoing nature forces India vs Pakistan match abandonment

This means Pakistan will automatically be announced as the winner and will be given all the points, without even playing. So, if India pulls out, it won’t just be a missed game; it will count as a proper loss on paper, giving Pakistan a free win in the tournament.

Notably, the Indian government banned all ties with Pakistan, including its artists and music, after the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam in April 2025, where 26 civilians lost their lives.

After which India attacked Pakistan, and war broke out, and given the situation, many urged the BCCI to boycott cricketing ties with the archrivals in the game of cricket.