Indian Cricket Team blocked from playing vs Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin has triggered a fresh storm of controversy after the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 got the green light. The subcontinental tournament will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28, and India and Pakistan are placed in the same group, with the blockbuster clash scheduled on September 14.

After the announcement, Mohammad Azharuddin slammed India’s decision to face Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025. Azhar questioned why India agrees to play Pakistan in the multi-nation tournaments but avoids facing them in bilateral series, which sends the wrong message to the world.

Mohammad Azharuddin slams BCCI over Asia Cup 2025 clash with Pakistan

He called it double standards and urged the BCCI to be consistent with their stance. India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral series since 2012–13 and only meet in ICC and ACC events due to long-standing political tensions between the two Asian giants.

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Amidst the electrifying excitement over the India-Pakistan clash in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, where the arch-rivals are likely to face each other thrice, Azhar has pointed out that if political issues prevent bilateral matches, they should also apply to multi-nation events.

Mohammad Azharuddin was quoted as saying by ANI: “I always say that everything should happen, or if it does not happen, then it should not happen at all. If you're not playing bilateral matches, then you shouldn't play international events either; that's what I believe. But whatever the government and the board decide will happen.”

Mohammad Azharuddin reacts to WCL 2025 controversy

Meanwhile, the former Indian captain has shared his thoughts on the recent controversy involving the India Champions refusing to play the Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends 2025 (WCL 2025).

The high-profile match was scheduled to take place in Birmingham last week but was called off after the Indian players refused to take the field against the Pakistani icons.

The Indian legends decided amid rising political tensions between India and Pakistan, following a deadly terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22. The players opted against facing Pakistan as a form of protest, which led the WCL organizers to cancel the game entirely.

Read Also: "If India vs Pakistan match happens"- Member of Parliament threatens BCCI

World Championship of Legends is not an official league: Azharuddin

Azharuddin pointed out the difference between official and unofficial events. He explained that the World Championship of Legends is a privately run tournament, but the Asia Cup is officially managed by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), making the events structural.

Azhar signed off by saying, “The veterans' league is not official; it's not sanctioned by the ICC or the BCCI. It's conducted privately, but the Asia Cup is a tournament governed by the ACC.”

#WATCH | Hubballi, Karnataka | On India to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, Former Indian cricket team captain and Congress leader Mohammed Azharuddin said, "... My stand is that if you are not playing bilateral events, then you should not play international events either. But… pic.twitter.com/eWT6VDj5N3

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

Notably, India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A of the Asia Cup 2025, along with Oman and the host nation, UAE. Group B features Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Afghanistan, and Sri Lanka. In the first round, all teams will play against each other in their group.

The top two teams from each group will move on to the Super Four stage, where the best sides will battle for a place in the final. India will enter the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 as the defending champions. They won the previous edition in 2023 by beating Sri Lanka in the final.