Key points
- Wasim Akram urges cricket to rise above politics
- Sunil Gavaskar says Indian players are helpless, with government policy dictating participation
- Kedar Jadhav and Harbhajan Singh oppose the clash, citing national sentiment
ISLAMABAD: As the Asia Cup 2025 draws near, anticipation for the blockbuster India-Pakistan clash on September 14 in Dubai is likely to be overshadowed by India’s growing stubbornness off the field.
Rather than embracing the spirit of the game, India appears set to sideline the fixture, letting politics dictate its stance. While Pakistan remains fully committed and ready to compete, India’s reluctance has raised eyebrows and questions over whether cricket will once again fall victim to political rigidity.
Former Pakistan captain and legendary pacer Wasim Akram has urged cricket to rise above politics, reiterating Pakistan’s willingness to compete regardless of the noise surrounding the tournament.
“We will be fine”
“Asia Cup schedule is out, there is backlash. But we in Pakistan are calm. We will be fine whether we play or don’t play. The game must go on,” Akram said on a podcast.
“I hope to see a Test series between India and Pakistan in my lifetime. Politics apart, I’m not a politician. They are patriotic about their country; we are patriotic about ours. Let’s not go below the belt,” he added, calling for respect and perspective on both sides.
Pakistan will begin their campaign against Oman on September 12, before the high-voltage match against India. The tournament – being staged in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28 – serves as a preparatory event for the T20 World Cup 2026.
Reluctance and caution
On the Indian side, however, reluctance and caution seem to be prevailing. Cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar stated that Indian players are mere bystanders in this political equation.
“If the government has taken a call, I don’t see how the players can be criticised. Players are helpless in this. If the government says you have to play, then they will play. If the government says no, then the BCCI will act accordingly,” Gavaskar told Indian media, making it clear that national policy overrides cricketing aspirations.
Hardened stance
Former Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav took a more hardened stance, calling for India to entirely skip the game, despite acknowledging the team’s strength.
“I think the Indian team should not play at all. As far as India is concerned, wherever India plays, it will always win. But this match should not be played,” Jadhav said confidently.
His sentiments were followed by spin veteran Harbhajan Singh, who tied the issue directly to national security and sentiment, especially following the Pahalgam incident that reignited cross-border tensions.
“Why do we give them so much importance?” Harbhajan asked.
“For me, the soldier who stands on the border, whose family often doesn’t get to see him – skipping one cricket match is a very small matter compared to their sacrifice.”
The atmosphere surrounding the match was further intensified when the BCCI media manager interrupted a press conference on August 19, refusing to entertain questions about the India vs Pakistan fixture. Present at the briefing were chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav, but a clear directive was issued:
“Only questions regarding team selection, please,” the media manager stated firmly, underlining the sensitivity of the topic.
Political fog
Despite the political fog, both squads are locked in and training as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has confirmed the full schedule and remains committed to staging the full tournament, including the marquee India-Pakistan clash and a potential rematch in the Super Four stage on September 21.
As both sides prepare to take the field, one thing is clear: while Pakistan appears eager to let cricket be the bridge, India’s approach remains cautious, with national politics casting a long shadow over the sport. For fans around the world, it’s not just about a match – it’s about whether cricket can once again rise above geopolitics.
India’s squad for the Asia Cup:
Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy , Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson
Pakistan’s squad for the Asia Cup:
Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem
