BCCI Bars Pakistan-Related Questions During Asia Cup 2025 Press Conference Announcing Indian Team Selection

Asia Cup 2025: On Tuesday, 19 August, BCCI held a press conference in Mumbai. In this press conference, selection committee chairman Ajit Agarkar announced Team India for the upcoming Asia Cup. During the questions in the press conference, Agarkar was stopped from answering questions related to Pakistan. A representative of the BCCI intervened and stopped Agarkar, the chairman of the selection committee, before he could answer the question. This incident happened when Agarkar was answering questions from the media, which further deepened the tension regarding the India-Pakistan cricket match.

The Indian cricket team will take on Pakistan in the Asia Cup on September 14 in Dubai. This will be the first time the two teams will face each other after the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu, and Kashmir. The two countries are likely to face each other three times in the tournament. The group stage, the Super 4 on September 21, and possibly the final. Due to the tension across the border, sharp reactions are being seen in the country regarding this match.

BCCI's changed stance

In May, sources told the media that India would neither participate in nor host the Asia Cup after the Pahalgam attack. However, the BCCI changed its stance and decided to host the tournament in the UAE. This decision is being considered a step towards reducing tensions between the two countries.

Many former players boycotted 

Many former Indian cricketers have advised the BCCI not to play against Pakistan. Harbhajan Singh, who was part of the Indian team in the recent World Championship of Legends, boycotted the match against Pakistan in that tournament. At the same time, former player Kedar Jadhav urged the national team to boycott their matches against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, which begins in the UAE on September 9.

Jadhav told ANI, "I don't think the Indian team should play. I also believe that India will not play. Wherever India faces them (Pakistan), they will win. But this match should definitely not happen. I can say with full confidence that this will not happen."

The Indian T20 team is as follows

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Jaspreet Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakraborty, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Harshit Rana, and Rinku Singh.