NEW DELHI: The upcoming India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 is sparking political fireworks almost as fiercely as it promises to on the cricket field. Ahead of the high-stakes match,
Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress leaders have raised strong objections, labelling the fixture “shameless” and profit-driven, while BJP and allied state leaders have thrown their weight behind the Indian team, calling it a matter of national pride and "compulsion to multilateral matches."
The criticism stems from India’s recent anti-terror operations against terrorists in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor, which the government said has been put on pause.
The already-strained India-Pakistan relations dropped several notches lower after the deadly terrorist attack in Pahalgam's Baisaran meadow that claimed 26 civilian lives. In retaliation, India launched cross-border strikes deep inside Pakistan and PoJK, targeting terror hotbeds in Pakistan's Bahawalpur and Muridke.
Shiv Sena (UBT) condemns the match, plans protest
Shiv Sena UBT chief
Uddhav Thackeray questioned the morality of holding the match, saying, "... Our Prime Minister said blood and water cannot flow together, then how can blood and cricket flow together. How can war and cricket be at the same time?... They have done business in patriotism. The business of patriotism is only for money. They are going to play the match tomorrow also because they want all the money they will get from that match... Tomorrow, Shiv Sena (UBT) women workers will come out on the streets in Maharashtra and they are going to send sindoor from every house to PM Modi..."
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also criticised the decision, stating, "...We will protest against this India-Pakistan cricket match. Women will come on the streets and our campaign is 'Sindoor Raksha Abhiyan'...You said that water and blood will not flow together. If water and blood will not flow together, then how will blood and cricket work together?...This is treason, shamelessness."
Raut further referred to ongoing grievances from past events, saying, "Operation Sindoor has not ended yet, it is still going on. The sindoor of our 26 women was wiped off in Pahalgam. Their pain, grief, and anger have not ended. Even today, they are in shock. And you people are going to play cricket with Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. This is shamelessness, this is treason. My question is to the BJP, not to the government. My question is to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, RSS, Bajrang Dal. Do you have any role in this or not?..."
BJP defends India’s participation
BJP MP and former BCCI president Anurag Thakur explained, “In a multilateral tournament organised by the ACC or ICC, we have to play as it is compulsory for all countries. If we do not take part, we will be eliminated from the tournament as the opposition will get the points. But we do not play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan, and we will not play with them until they stop hurting us with the terrorism that flourishes there.”
Political jabs between Maharashtra leaders
Maharashtra minister Nitesh Rane took a dig at Shiv Sena MLA Aaditya Thackeray, mocking him for planning to attend the match, saying, "Aaditya Thackeray will go silently to attend the match (upcoming India vs Pakistan match in Asia Cup 2025), wearing a burqa. His voice will also help him in this. After wearing a burqa, if he speaks in a woman's voice, people will believe him... No one would recognise that he is Aaditya Thackeray..."
Rane also criticised Uddhav Thackeray, asking, "Does Saamana or Uddhav Thackeray have the moral right to comment on the India-Pakistan match? During a rally of one of Uddhav Thackeray's MPs, slogans of 'Pakistan Zindabad' were raised, green flags were waved, green gulal was thrown, and slogans like 'sar tan se juda' were chanted. So, why didn't they express anger towards Pakistan then?"
Congress terms the match a business, questions government morality
Congress MP Imraan Masood joined the criticism, framing the match as profit-driven: "This is a business... The rights to broadcast it are sold at very high prices... They don't care about the fact that it's only been a few days since our sisters' 'sindoor' has been wiped off... This is not the first time; earlier, we did not send our hockey team either. They should not try to tell the rules... Those who wiped the 'sindoor' of our sisters, and you are going to play a match with them. You should be ashamed, and the government should also be ashamed that they do not have enough morality left in them that earlier they were saying that blood and water will not flow together, and now you are making them play cricket together."
BJP, state leaders support team India
In contrast, Haryana Sports minister Gaurav Gautam wished the Indian team success, saying, "India has given a befitting reply to Pakistan on every front. I think India will emerge victorious here as well. Best wishes to our Indian players."
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