Will the IND vs PAK match be cancelled in Asia Cup 2025?
IND vs PAK, Can government cancel India vs Pakistan Match at Asia Cup: The Asia Cup 2025, which is scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28, is already making headlines with the pulsating clash between India and Pakistan on September 14. However, after the attack in Pahalgam in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 people, many are demanding the Indian government to cancel the match.
The attack in Pahalgam in April, which was allegedly carried out by Pakistan-backed terrorists, had escalated tensions between the two countries. However, the announcement of a match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup has added fuel to the fire. Former Infosys chief financial officer Mohandas Pai and Shiv Sena MP Priyanka Chaturvedi have publicly appealed to India to sever any cricketing ties with Pakistan. They said that national interest and security should be given priority over entertainment or commercial gains.
BJP leader Shagun Parihar told ANI News, “It is a matter of the central government. A similar match was cancelled earlier. I think the government will take the same step again. Our government is capable and gave a strong reply to Pakistan through Operation Sindoor.”
The leader clearly disagreed with the BCCI’s decision; however, he expects intervention from the Indian government and feels that some of the Indian government’s plans are different from the Indian Cricket Board.
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A lot depends on the National Sports Governance Bill
Currently, the Indian government cannot directly stop the BCCI from allowing India to play Pakistan in multilateral events like the Asia Cup. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) functions autonomously and does not come under the Sports Ministry, mainly because the National Sports Governance Bill has not been passed yet.
However, the scenario could change if the National Sports Governance Bill, which is currently being reviewed in Parliament, is passed. The bill proposes to give the government the power to ban the participation of Indian teams in international competitions under exceptional circumstances and in the national interest. Until then, the final decision will remain with the BCCI.
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