'No ties with Pakistan': Asia Cup match sparks row; Pahalgam victim’s father demands boycott

NEW DELHI: Father of Pahalgam terror attack victim Shubham Dwivedi on Friday voiced strong opposition to India playing Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai on September 14. He urged the government to cancel the match, saying there should be no political or sporting ties with Pakistan after the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives.“On 22nd April 2025, Pakistan killed 26 innocent people of our country. The government of India had said that it would have no relations with Pakistan and that blood and water cannot flow together," Sanjay Dwivedi told ANI."Since the day I got to know (about the India vs Pakistan match), not just me but the entire country has been opposing it and saying that there should be no relations, political or in the sports field, with Pakistan. I oppose this and urge the government to take action in this matter, keeping the public sentiment in mind," he said.Meanwhile, Supreme Court on Thursday declined to urgently list a plea seeking an interim stay on the India-Pakistan match. A bench of Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi said the fixture should go ahead as scheduled.The petition, filed by Urvashi Jain, argued that playing Pakistan would send a wrong message after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. The plea stated that cricket between nations is meant to foster harmony, but given ongoing tensions and sacrifices of Indian soldiers, organising such a match was “detrimental to national interest” and “demoralising for the armed forces.”It also criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), alleging that the body functioned like “a nation within a nation,” insensitive to national tragedies and public sentiment.This will be the first India-Pakistan international clash since the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. While opposition leaders and victims’ families have demanded a boycott, the Centre has not raised objections to the Indian team participating in multi-nation tournaments against Pakistan.