In the lead-up to the highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan on September 14, 2025, the Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings (PBKS) has stirred considerable buzz with a recent social media post. The post, intended to promote India's upcoming game, notably omitted any mention of Pakistan as the opponent, sparking speculation and debate about a potential boycott.
The Punjab Kings' action comes amid growing calls for India to avoid playing against Pakistan, fueled by recent terror attacks and escalating political tensions between the two nations. A petition was even filed in the Supreme Court of India seeking the cancellation of the match, arguing that playing cricket with Pakistan would send the wrong message in light of recent events such as the Phalagam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The petition emphasized that national dignity and citizen security should take precedence over entertainment, further claiming that such matches could negatively impact the morale of the armed forces. The Supreme Court, however, declined to list the plea as an urgent matter.
The social media post by Punjab Kings, which omitted Pakistan's name, drew significant attention, prompting the franchise to disable the comments section on X (formerly Twitter). This action further fueled speculation that the team was intentionally attempting to take a stance against Pakistan's participation in the tournament. While Punjab Kings has not explicitly stated their reasons for omitting Pakistan's name, the move is widely interpreted as a form of protest or boycott.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not issued any official statement regarding the matter. It is understood that India will continue to participate in multilateral tournaments such as the Asia Cup, even against Pakistan. However, the recent events and the sentiments expressed in the public domain highlight the complex relationship between sports and politics, particularly when it comes to India and Pakistan. The match has been shrouded in controversy since this is the first game that is being played since the Pahalgam terror attack.
Despite the controversy, the India-Pakistan match remains one of the most highly anticipated contests in the Asia Cup 2025. The game is scheduled to take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
