Social media has continued its trend to boycott the upcoming clash between India and Pakistan at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 on September 14. Many called for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side not to feature in the game and focus on the other two group-stage clashes, one of which they have already won against the UAE.

However, the former BCCI president and current BJP member of Parliament, Anurag Thakur, clarified that such games can’t be avoided in multi-nation events that are conducted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) or the International Cricket Council (ICC).  

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“When multinational tournaments are organised by ACC or ICC, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don't do that, they will be eliminated from the tournament, they will have to forfeit the match, and the other team will get the points.” Thakur addressed during a recent interaction on ANI.

Anurag Thakur discloses reason for India’s participation against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

The last meeting between these two teams came in 2012/13 in the bilateral series. However, their last face-to-face came in the Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, but the latest clash comes in the backdrop of the heightened tensions of the Operation Sindhoor, India’s retaliatory action against Pakistan’s terror attack.  

“But India doesn't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan. We have made this decision for years that India won't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan until Pakistan stops terrorist attacks on India.” Thakur added during the same interaction. This contest will be incredibly vital for both sides to make their Super Four berth in the event.

Meanwhile, the former spin all-rounder of the Blue Brigade, Harbhajan Singh, also called for boycotting the clash, despite stressing that personal sentiment and policy often differ in such matters during the debate. “India-Pakistan matches always come into the limelight, but after Operation Sindhoor, everyone said there should be no cricket and no business. We were playing the World Championship of Legends, but we did not play that match against Pakistan.” The veteran concluded.