Cricket Tensions Rise: Should India Play Pakistan in Asia Cup Amid Jammu and Kashmir Attack Backlash?
Pune, Maharashtra: Former Indian all-rounder and BJP leader Kedar Jadhav has sparked debate by saying he doesn’t want India to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup match happening in Dubai on Sunday. His comments come amid strong emotions following the horrific terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam on April 22, where Pakistan-sponsored terrorists killed 26 innocent tourists.
Many fans and former players feel the same way. Just like ex-batter Manoj Tiwary, Jadhav believes India should skip this high-stakes India vs Pakistan clash. Talking to reporters, he said, "I don’t know what will happen, but according to me, this match should not be played." The anger has led to calls for boycotting the fixture, with cricket fans flooding social media to say they won’t watch the rivalry game.
This isn’t the first time such issues have cropped up. Last month, the Indian government laid down clear rules on sports events with Pakistan. Indian teams and athletes can join international tournaments that include Pakistan, but India won’t play any matches on Pakistani soil or take part in bilateral series against them. It’s a firm stance to balance sports and security.
Meanwhile, India has started the Asia Cup on a high note. On Wednesday, they crushed the UAE by 9 wickets in a one-sided affair. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav stole the show with his left-arm magic, bowling out UAE for just 57 runs—the second-lowest total in Asia Cup history. India chased it down in only 4.3 overs, kicking off their campaign with fireworks.
The spotlight now shifts to the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup showdown, which always draws massive crowds and online buzz. Will emotions win over cricket spirit? Fans are watching closely.
India’s Asia Cup Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (Captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh.
Pakistan’s Asia Cup Squad: Salman Ali Agha (Captain), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Waseem Jnr, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Afridi, Sufyan Moqim.
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