“If the government has taken a call…”- Sunil Gavaskar shares forthright opinion on BCCI’s Asia Cup decision
Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has appealed to the cricketing community to avoid blaming players for participating in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, despite rising tensions with Pakistan.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has appealed to the cricketing community to avoid blaming players for participating in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, despite rising tensions with Pakistan. He emphasised that the athletes should not be held responsible for political or security concerns surrounding the tournament.
Gavaskar’s comments come amid calls to boycott the event following a recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which tragically claimed the lives of several tourists. The incident sparked widespread discussions on whether players should take part in matches involving Pakistan, given the sensitive security situation.
The discussion gained more traction after two scheduled India vs Pakistan games in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) were called off, further fueling the ongoing debate. Several former players, including Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh, refused to play, highlighting the controversy.
Sunil Gavaskar urges fans not to fault players’ Asia Cup participation:
Sunil Gavaskar stressed that current players deserve respect for focusing on cricket and representing their nation professionally, without facing undue criticism. So, he emphasized that Indian team players do not make such decisions themselves.
They strictly follow instructions issued by the BCCI and the Indian government, having no personal role in determining participation in events like the Asia Cup.
Gavaskar said, “ If the government has taken a call, I don't see how the players can be criticised or commented upon, because the players at the end of the day are contracted to the BCCI and they will be taking the instructions from the government of India. And so it entirely depends on that.”
He further said, “ The players are helpless in this. They've been selected to play in the Asia Cup, and if the government says you have to play, then they will go out and play. If the government says you don't, then the BCCI will act accordingly.”
When questioned about whether Indian players should withdraw from matches against Pakistan, Gavaskar clarified that such decisions rest solely with the Indian government, and the team will follow whatever directive is issued. He added, “ Like I said, it is entirely up to the government of India to tell the BCCI what to do.”
India’s Road in Asia Cup 2025:
India will begin their Asia Cup 2025 journey against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai. India’s eagerly awaited showdown with Pakistan will be played on September 14 in Dubai, followed by their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
After the group stage, the Asia Cup 2025 will move into the Super 4 phase, where the leading two teams from each group qualify. Should India secure the top spot in Group A, all their Super 4 fixtures are scheduled to be played in Dubai, giving them consistent conditions throughout this crucial stage of the tournament.
If India ends up second in Group A, they will play one Super 4 match in Abu Dhabi, while the remaining two fixtures will still be hosted in Dubai. The Super 4 stage runs from September 20 to 26, with the final scheduled in Dubai on September 28.
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