Multinational tournaments…are “compulsion”, “necessity”: Anurag Thakur says India doesn’t play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan
(source : ANI) ( Photo Credit : ani)
BJP’s Anurag Thakur Stands Firm: No Bilateral Cricket Matches with Pakistan Until Terrorism Ends
In a strong statement ahead of the high-stakes India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025, BJP MP Anurag Thakur made it clear that India won’t play bilateral cricket series with Pakistan. He emphasized that the country will stick to this policy until Pakistan stops all terrorist attacks on India.
Speaking to reporters in Pune, Maharashtra, Thakur explained the difference between multi-nation events and one-on-one games. "When the ACC or ICC organizes multinational tournaments like the Asia Cup, nations have no choice but to join. Skipping them means getting knocked out, forfeiting matches, and handing points to rivals," he said. "But for bilateral tournaments with Pakistan? India has decided years ago—we won’t play until they end their support for terrorism against us."
This comes as cricket fans gear up for the India vs Pakistan match on September 14 in Dubai, the first international cricket encounter between the two sides since the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. That tragic incident claimed 26 innocent lives, sparking outrage across India.
Family of Pahalgam Victim Urges Government to Cancel the Match
Adding to the tension, Sanjay Dwivedi, father of Shubham Dwivedi—one of the victims from the Pahalgam attack—has called for a complete break in ties with Pakistan, both politically and in sports. He wants the government to scrap the upcoming cricket match right away.
In an emotional interview, Sanjay shared his pain: "On April 22, 2025, Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 of our innocent people. Our government rightly said there can be no relations with them—blood and water can’t flow together. Since I learned about this India-Pakistan cricket match, the whole country has been against it. We demand no political or sports links with Pakistan. I oppose this game and urge the government to act, respecting public feelings."
His words highlight the deep wounds from the attack and the ongoing Operation Sindoor, India’s counter-terror operation targeting terror camps in Pakistan. Infiltrations and clashes continue in Kashmir, with Indian soldiers risking their lives daily.
Supreme Court Rejects Plea to Stop the India-Pakistan Cricket Match
The controversy reached the courts too. On Thursday, India’s Supreme Court turned down an urgent plea to halt the Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan. A bench led by Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi said the game must go ahead as planned.
The petition, filed by Urvashi Jain, argued that playing cricket with Pakistan sends the wrong signal amid rising tensions. "Cricket builds harmony, but after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor—where our soldiers fought bravely and lost lives—hosting this match disrespects the families of victims and hurts national morale," the plea stated.
Jain also slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), calling it insensitive to India’s security issues. She pointed out that the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports doesn’t officially recognize any cricket body, yet the BCCI acts independently, ignoring national tragedies.
The petitioner stressed that with ongoing infiltrations in Kashmir and soldiers conducting round-the-clock operations against Pakistan-sponsored terrorists, such a match undermines the armed forces and public sentiment.
Despite calls from opposition parties to boycott the game, the Indian government has given the green light for the team to compete in multi-nation tournaments like the Asia Cup. As the big day approaches, the debate over cricket, terrorism, and India-Pakistan relations rages on, blending sports excitement with serious national concerns.
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