Why is India playing Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025? Ex-Sports Minister explains

Social media and sections of the public have expressed reservations about India taking the field against Pakistan in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. However, former Sports Minister and current BJP Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur clarified that such contests are unavoidable when it comes to tournaments conducted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) or the International Cricket Council (ICC).

The two nations last met in a bilateral series in 2012/13. Since then, their encounters have been limited to global or continental competitions like the Asia Cup or the ODI and T20 World Cups. This latest clash comes in the backdrop of heightened tensions following Operation Sindoor, India’s retaliatory action against terror groups in Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack in April, which has further fuelled calls from certain former cricketers and fans to avoid the fixture altogether.

Thakur, addressing the issue in a video shared by ANI, explained why India continues to face Pakistan in multinational events. "When multinational tournaments are organised by ACC or ICC, it becomes a compulsion, a necessity for nations to participate. If they don't do that, they will be eliminated from the tournament, they will have to forfeit the match and the other team will get the points... But India doesn't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan. We have made this decision for years that India won't play bilateral tournaments with Pakistan until Pakistan stops terrorist attacks on India."

Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh also weighed in on the debate, stressing that personal sentiment and policy often differ in such matters. Speaking at a Society magazine event, he said: "India-Pakistan matches always come into the limelight, but after Operation Sindoor, everyone said there should be no cricket and no business. We were playing the World Championship of Legends, but we did not play that match against Pakistan."

Harbhajan added that he does not support sporting or trade ties with Pakistan on a personal level, but respects the government’s stance when it comes to competing in multilateral tournaments.

Despite the controversy, the Asia Cup contest between the arch-rivals looks set to go ahead. Both India and Pakistan head into the fixture with winning starts, making the game crucial for a Super Four berth.