Indian players likely to wear black armbands in Asia Cup 2025 against Pakistan: Know the reason

The most awaited face-off of the Asia Cup 2025 is going to take place on Sunday, September 14, when India faces its archrivals in Pakistan. For almost over the past decade, these two much-anticipated nations have met only in ICC and ACC events, while the bilateral ties have been frozen in time. Media reports suggest that the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is going to wear black armbands in-game as a silent protest.

This high-profile group-stage encounter is much more than cricket. Following on from the Pahalgam terror incident and military tensions that have followed, the debate as to whether India and Pakistan should be playing as rivals on world stages continues. While it is improbable that the Dubai International Cricket Stadium will see explicit demonstrations, things like handshake refusals or black armbands could make India’s position clear.

The political context has also prompted calls for a boycott of the match. Some critics have called for the BCCI and players to refuse to engage with Pakistan. Reports indicate that the mood in the Indian camp in Dubai has been relatively low-key, with the charged atmosphere of the match being behind it.

BCCI and Team India Weigh Symbolic Protest

Senior BCCI officials remain mindful of public sentiment ahead of the clash. For both the board and the players, the match is more than a group-stage contest, it is an opportunity to echo the emotions of the Indian people. India’s assistant coach, Ryan ten Doeschate, summed up the team’s mindset while addressing the media.

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“We are aware of the sentiments and the strong feelings. And Gauti (Gautam Gambhir, head coach) message has just been very professional, about not worrying about things that are not in our control. I have no doubt the players share the compassion and feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public,” ten Doeschate said.