Sourav Ganguly Backs India-Pakistan Asia Cup Match Amid Terror Tensions
In a charged India-Pakistan clash at the Asia Cup, former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly made a strong point: terror needs to end everywhere, but sports must go on. The high-stakes game in Kolkata on Sunday marked the first meeting between the two teams since the deadly Pahalgam terror attacks in April, which led to India’s bold Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-sponsored threats. Tensions ran sky-high, with Team India facing criticism just for stepping onto the field.
India dominated the match, bowling Pakistan out for a modest 127/9 in 20 overs. Pakistan’s innings crumbled early at 6/2 after losing the toss and choosing to bat. Sahibzada Farhan smashed 40 off 44 balls with a four and three sixes, while Fakhar Zaman added 17 off 15. But India’s bowlers struck back, reducing them to 97/8. Shaheen Shah Afridi’s late fireworks—33 not out off 16 balls with four sixes—pushed the total, but it wasn’t enough.
Kuldeep Yadav shone brightest for India, grabbing 3 wickets for just 18 runs and earning Player of the Match. Axar Patel (2/18) and Jasprit Bumrah (2/28) chipped in with two each, while Hardik Pandya took one.
Chasing 128, India lost two quick wickets in the powerplay but bounced back. Abhishek Sharma set the tone with a fiery 31 off 13 balls, including four boundaries and two sixes. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav then took charge, unbeaten on 47 off 37 balls with five fours and a six. He partnered with Tilak Varma (31 off 31) for 56 runs and finished the job with Shivam Dube (10 not out), sealing a seven-wicket win with 25 balls to spare.
The real drama unfolded off the field. Suryakumar and Abhishek walked away without the traditional handshake with Pakistan, sparking debates on cricket’s spirit. In his post-match speech, Suryakumar dedicated the victory to India’s armed forces and the Pahalgam victims. "We stand by the families of the Pahalgam terror attack victims and express our solidarity," he said. "This win goes to our brave armed forces who showed incredible courage in Operation Sindoor. They inspire us, and we’ll keep giving them reasons to smile on the field."
At the press conference, when asked about skipping the handshake, Suryakumar stood firm: "Some things in life come before sportsmanship. We stand with the victims and their families. This victory honors our forces in Operation Sindoor."
Ganguly, speaking to media in Kolkata, weighed in on whether the match should have happened. "Terror must stop—it’s the most important thing, not just in India or Pakistan, but worldwide," he said. "But sports cannot stop." On the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) complaining to the International Cricket Council (ICC) about match referee Andy Pycroft for allegedly breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws on cricket’s spirit, Ganguly kept it simple: "Everyone has their side of the story. That’s how it is."
The controversy grew when Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi demanded Pycroft’s immediate removal from the Asia Cup. In a post on X, he backed the PCB’s complaint, highlighting violations of ICC rules and MCC laws.
Pakistan’s side felt the sting too. Skipper Salman Agha skipped the post-match presentation, sending head coach Mike Hesson instead. Hesson expressed disappointment over the no-handshake moment. "We were ready to shake hands and went over for it, but they had already headed to the changing room," he said. "It’s disappointing how the match ended. We were keen to do it, but it didn’t happen."
With this win, India tops Group A with two victories from two games in the Asia Cup. The India-Pakistan rivalry adds another intense chapter, blending thrilling cricket with real-world tensions. Fans worldwide watched as sport navigated tough times, proving Ganguly’s words ring true—stop terror, but never stop the game.
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