[WATCH] 'Sports must go on...' Former India skipper comments on India and Pakistan playing each other in Asia Cup 2025

Since the PCB chairman and Pakistan’s interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi, revealed the news of the Asia Cup 2025 with the mouth-watering clash between India and Pakistan scheduled to take place on September 14, perhaps in Dubai, there have been questions on whether the tournament should go forward, especially after the broken relationship between the two countries.

The former Indian captain, Sourav Ganguly, feels that the event and the game between India and Pakistan must go down as he feels that terrorism shouldn’t happen, but the game must carry forward. Both sides are in the same group, which means they can potentially face each other thrice in three successive weeks if they qualify for the final.

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‘I am okay. The sport must go on. At the same time, Pahalgam should not happen, but the sport must go on. Terrorism must not happen; it needs to be stopped. India took a strong stance towards terrorism, but that's in the past. Sport needs to be played.’ Sourav Ganguly made the statement in Kolkata during an interaction with ANI.

Watch: Sourav Ganguly comments on India vs Pakistan clash in Asia Cup 2025

A total of 19 games will take place in the competition, featuring eight teams- two more than the last edition. Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Afghanistan are placed in the same group. Abu Dhabi and Dubai are expected to be the two venues for the event. The BCCI holds the hosting rights for the tournament, but an agreement was made between the two sides to face each other in neutral venues.

#WATCH | Kolkata: On India-Pakistan placed in the same group in the Asia Cup, former Indian cricketer Saurav Ganguly says, "I am okay. The sport must go on. At the same time Pahalgam should not happen, but the sport must go on. Terrorism must not happen; it needs to be stopped.… pic.twitter.com/Qrs17KOKrN

— ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2025

A few weeks ago, the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 game between India and Pakistan Champions was cancelled, but several players from the Blur Brigade, including Shikhar Dhawan, Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Patha, Harbhajan Singh, Suresh Raina, and others, pulled out of the game hours before it was scheduled.

I am delighted to confirm the dates for the ACC Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in the UAE. The prestigious tournament will take place from September 9th to 28th. We look forward to a spectacular display of cricket! A detailed schedule will be out soon.’ Naqi expressed in a declaration the dates of the Asia Cup 2025.