The Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan in Dubai has been met with intense calls for a boycott, creating a tense atmosphere surrounding the high-profile match. The calls for boycotts have arisen from political leaders, victims' families, and even former cricketers. The match is scheduled to take place on September 14, 2025, less than five months after the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people.
Reasons for Boycott Calls
The Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which resulted in civilian casualties, has been a major catalyst for the boycott calls. Families of the victims have expressed their grief and questioned the decision to proceed with the match despite the recent Operation Sindoor and cross-border tensions. Sawan Parmar, who lost his father and brother in the attack, voiced his anguish over the scheduled fixture, stating that no connection should remain with Pakistan.
Political leaders have also joined the chorus for a boycott. AAP leaders staged a protest in Delhi, burning a Pakistan-labelled effigy. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray questioned the double standards of allowing war and cricket to coexist. Congress MP Imran Masood alleged that profit was being placed above pain, with tickets being sold at high prices despite the destruction of families. Aaditya Thackeray renewed his attack on the BJP and the BCCI, questioning the decision to proceed with the game.
Impact on the Indian Team
The intense social media campaign for a boycott has reportedly reached the players in the dressing room. Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, and other players are said to be shaken by the boycott calls, with the young team feeling nervous ahead of the high-profile clash. The players even held a talk with head coach Gautam Gambhir and other members of the support staff to calm themselves and seek advice on how to handle the situation.
To address the situation, head coach Gautam Gambhir and assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate have urged the team to focus on cricket, emphasizing that some factors are beyond their control. Ten Doeschate acknowledged the sensitive issue but stressed that the team has been instructed to strictly follow the directives of the BCCI and the Indian government.
BCCI's Stance
The BCCI has clarified that India's participation is necessary as the Asia Cup is a multinational tournament, akin to the Olympics or FIFA World Cup. According to reports, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that boycotting the tournament would bring a lot of negativity for all future endeavors of hosting any multinational tournament in the country.
Sunil Gavaskar has also emphasized that the Indian team is simply following directives from the BCCI and the government and has no role in deciding whether the match takes place. He highlighted that the players are just following orders, while all politically sensitive decisions are handled by higher authorities.
Possible Protests
Amid the boycott chatter, the Indian players have planned a symbolic protest against their opponents. This may include handshake snubs or wearing black armbands.
Match Details
Despite the controversy, the India-Pakistan clash is set to take place on September 14, 2025, at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The weather is expected to be challenging, with daytime temperatures hitting 40°C and a "RealFeel" of 44°C due to humidity and strong sunshine. The pitch is expected to offer a fair contest between bat and ball, with seamers finding early movement and spinners becoming more influential as the surface slows.
Both teams have registered emphatic wins in their opening matches, with India defeating UAE by nine wickets and Pakistan outclassing Oman by 93 runs.
