The Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan in Dubai on September 14th was marred by off-field controversies, despite India's convincing seven-wicket victory. The highly anticipated match, typically a guaranteed sell-out, was noticeably affected by calls for a boycott, resulting in a significant number of empty seats at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
The calls for boycotts stemmed from heightened tensions between the two nations, particularly following the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which resulted in the deaths of 26 people. Opposition parties staged protests across India, urging people to abstain from watching the match as a sign of protest against a nation they accuse of sponsoring terrorism. Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal were among the prominent voices advocating for a boycott.
Adding to the controversy, the Indian cricket team chose to forgo the customary handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts after the match, a decision confirmed by India's captain Suryakumar Yadav as a mark of protest. This decision, reportedly made in consultation with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government, drew criticism from Pakistan's head coach Mike Hesson, who expressed his disappointment. Pakistan's team manager lodged a formal protest with the match referee, Andy Pycroft, and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony in protest.
Adding another layer to the controversy, a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official stated that the match referee had asked both captains to skip the pre-toss ritual. The PCB has lodged complaints with the Asian Cricket Council against the Indian team for refusing to shake hands and against match referee Andy Pycroft. They have also reportedly asked the ICC for the immediate removal of the match referee.
Before the match, there was also a controversy involving the Pakistan national anthem. Instead of the Pakistan national anthem, a different song was played for a few seconds.
Despite the calls for a boycott, some fans and analysts pointed out the near impossibility of a complete boycott, given the intense emotions associated with an India-Pakistan match. The BCCI defended the decision to participate in the Asia Cup, citing its multinational nature and the negative repercussions that a boycott would have on India's future endeavors to host international tournaments.
