When the Cup schedule was first announced for the first time, many of them were skeptical. Even with accessories, people were wondering whether India-Pakistan would actually continue, given the current geopolitical climate due to a terrorist attack on Phalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. After the Indian Asian Cup team was announced, doubts persisted – some believed it was still just a BCCI decision and that the government could approve approval.
But now the picture is clear. Anyone who thought India-Pakistan in Asia would be dismissed for public resistance has proven to be bad. This debate was everywhere: on social media, in the mainstream media and even in the parliament where questions were raised.
The government has now issued an official statement that confirms that India-Pakistan will continue in Asia Cup. They also provided their justification, which in turn raises several questions. Before considering these questions, it is important to understand what the government has said about the conflict.
The first point is that while India maintains any bilateral sports ties with Pakistan, he will participate in international and versatile tournaments including Pakistan. This is in line with the long -term attitude of India: since 2013 there has been no bilateral cricket with Pakistan and this status remains. However, the government has now explicitly stated that India will play Pakistan in international and versatile tournaments, including the Asia Cup.
The government announcement further states that Pakistani players and teams will be able to participate in such versatile India events.
“In terms of international and multilateral events, we are led by practices of international sports bodies and interest of our own athletes in India or abroad. It is also important to take into account the emergence of India as a trustworthy place for hosting international sports events,” the Ministry of Sport said.
“In accordance with this, Indian teams and individual players will participate in international events, which also have teams or players from Pakistan. Similarly, Pakistani players and teams of power will participate in such multilateral events organized by India,” he added.
It is not just that India play Pakistan in these tournaments. The government explained that even though Pakistani players want to come to India for versatile tournaments – such as the Asian Cup in Hockey – a visa will be provided and participated. Let me emphasize: This applies to all sports, not just cricket. This advice comes as a result of a terrorist attack by Pahalgam, which claimed 26 lives, and the Sindoor surgery, India removing an action dismantling the terrorist infrastructure across the border.
Several votes, including former crickets, urged the cricket team of the Indian men to boycott the match of the Asia Cup against Pakistan. These calls followed by increased tension between the two nations. However, the explanation of the government, however, emphasizes that Indian desire will be recognized worldwide as a trusted place for international sports events. In accordance with this, Pakistani players will allow to come here, allow the Pakistani team to compete and ensure that India participates in the multilateral and international tournaments concerning Pakistan.
The Government’s official statement is:
“The position of India as a preferred goal for organizing international sports events will be simplified by a visa process for athletes, team officials, technical staff and offices of international sports management offices.
“As regards the bearers of international sports management authorities, a visa with multiple inputs is awarded a priority for the duration of their official tenure, subject to a maximum period of five years. This will facilitate their smooth movement into the country and in the country, in accordance with international standards. India ”, which are in line with bodies that are in line with bodies that are in line with bodies that are in accordance with international standards and”.
Five major questions will now arise from these decisions.
Hosting international events greater than national interest?
Question number one is, organizes international events greater than national interest? So the government says, because listening, we want to be seen as a trustworthy place for hosting international tournaments, so we allow Pakistani players to come here and participate, and we also participate because we want and know that there is a clear kind of hint of the Olympic Games. These are Commonwealth games that India also wants to host.
But the question is, is it any of this about the national interest? Did you know that you said that national interest is in the first place, on the border there are people who fought, there were people who were tortured in Pahalgam, organizing an international event more important than the lives of Indian citizens? I think this is the first question that the government should ask. Should India play Pakistan in Asia Cup? (AP photo)
Why the Asia Cup?
Another is that ICC tournaments can lead to insulation. So even if you say you have to send your team, then maybe ICC, if it was an ICC tournament that you say well, you know that if you do not send a team to the ICC tournament, then no one would like to play cricket or maybe other sports, so we will be completely isolated.
But why Asia Cup? The Asia Cup is a tournament that has also been delayed in the past, the venue has been changed, and very often, when India does not play an Asian cup, there is no threat to isolation, these Asian countries will continue to play bilateral cricket with India. What was the need to allow India to participate in the Asian Cup? This comes again, as I repeat, as a result of what happened in Pahalgam and Sindoor surgery. This is the number two question.
Avoiding insulation at what costs?
Question number three, although (boycott of matches) ICC tournaments threaten isolation, is it beyond national interest? I will return to the question of one. FINE, ICC TOURNAMENTS, I SAID THAT Maybe That They Can Be Isolating, So You Know Bcci or the Indian Government May Want Them to Go And Play, But Even If You Are Threaten, Even IF You Are Said no, You Cannot Tournament, Does That Come Up Above National Interest AS I Mentioned, Does That Come Over the Lives of Maybe Soldiers That Lost Their Lives Fighting for the Country or the People or the Tourists That Were Martyred There in Pahalgam? This is another question.
India has stood up in the past
Remember that it is not, in the past you know that Indian teams have boycotted these big international events, and this is another question if India could skip international events in the past and stand up, why not now? In 1974, India Reached the Final of the Davis Cup, What is, you know, the Number One Team Tournament in the World of Tennis and You Had to Play South Africa, But Because India Had a Stand That The Will Not Engage with South Africa We Will Not Play The Final, SO MISSED AND GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY to Win the Davis Cup, That Time India Took and Stand there, We Have Seen It in the Past As Well, 1986, The Asia Cup, the Indian team did not travel to Sri Lanka because there was a threat, there was a perception.
After returning to the cricket, South Africa has constantly invited teams like England, Australia, even West Indies would go to international tours and play with South Africa, the Indian team, said no, we have no diplomatic relations with South Africa, we will not play with India. Playing India, so we don’t play India with India, so in 1991 we don’t play with India, which started playing in India in 1991 in 1991. First, national interest and boycott of international tournaments because of the national interests, now that the government puts me to the Asian Cup. Pakistan?
Double standards?
So the social context, as you know, the social media of Pakistan’s handles or people on X and various other platforms have been banned, any content that was operated on Indian Television or social media from Pakistan, so you said no social contact with them, no man to contact them.
Just To Give You An Idea, Before What Happened in Pahalgam and Operation Sindoor, The Exports that Were There Between India and Pakistan, They Were Close to, So India Were Exporting Close to $ 55 Million Worth Goods to Pakistan, right after that you have cut it down to just 5 million, so 90% of that export Indian Government Has Stopped, So What About The People Whose Businesses Have Been Lost Because I don’t think they had a problem, probably for national interests Because they remember that 90% of exports were costs if they had to stand for interest in national interest.
For people who consume social media or other type of content from Pakistan, such as Diljit Dosanjh, who even threw a Pakistani actress, everyone had to retreat.
Even for Senior Players, Retired Players Who Are Going To Play at World Championship of Legends Game, The Legends League, Even The Pulled Out of the Pakistan Game, SO for All of Them Are Expected to Sacrifice, But When It Comes to Cricket, When It Comes to the Big Draw India Pakistan, Then You Have Different Standards, IF This is Not Double Speak Then I Don’t Know What It Is.
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Published:
Kingshuk Kusari
Published on:
August 22, 2025
