'No Boycott Possible': BCCI Stands Ground, Says India Must Play Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025

Amid rising calls on social media to boycott the Asia Cup match against Pakistan, the BCCI has confirmed that India will still play the game. Board secretary Devajit Saikia said the decision follows guidelines from the central government. The move comes despite criticism after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, with Saikia stressing that the board had no independent choice in the matter.

Impact on Future Sports Events

The BCCI official said India must play Pakistan in the Asia Cup because it is a multi-nation tournament. He warned that refusing to play would harm India’s chances of hosting future world events like the Olympics or the Commonwealth Games. Earlier this year, 26 civilians were killed in the Pahalgam attack. India answered with Operation Sindoor, targeting terror bases in Pakistan and PoK. Several YouTube channels from across the border were banned, and many assumed cricket ties would also stop.

'No Risk of International Ban'

Once the Asia Cup schedule became public, angry fans questioned why India should still play Pakistan. Saikia replied that skipping such events could lead to sanctions, so India has no option but to take the field on Sunday. “We have joined the Asia Cup because it is like the Olympics or FIFA events,” he told Hindustan Times. “We cannot boycott multi-nation events or it will harm our hopes of hosting them in India. He added that for bilateral series, India can refuse to play hostile nations. In fact, there has been no India–Pakistan bilateral cricket since 2012-13.

Pakistan Called 'Not Friendly'

Saikia also said the board already views Pakistan as unfriendly and does not arrange bilateral matches. But international tournaments are different, like the recent T20 World Cup in the USA and West Indies or the upcoming Champions Trophy. In such cases, India must compete or risk damaging the whole event. He warned that refusing to join global tournaments would lead to action by other federations. If India skips events like AFC football qualifiers, Davis Cup or Thomas Cup, its bids to host big games such as the Olympics or Commonwealth Games could fail. Even fines or bans on Indian sports bodies could follow.

Central Policy Guides Decision

The BCCI secretary stressed the board cannot risk players’ futures. Missing tournaments would block Indian athletes from competing worldwide. Current government rules allow matches in multi-nation events but not bilateral contests against hostile countries. “We obey that policy for the sake of all sports and players,” Saikia said. “Whether it is cricket, football, boxing or badminton, the same rule applies.” He ended by expressing confidence in Team India’s success against Pakistan. “I only hope our team wins. We must show our strength not only at the border but also on the cricket field,” he said.