Pakistan Selector Stirs Tensions ahead of Asia Cup Match against India”

Pakistan’s chief selector, Aqib Javed, stirred tensions ahead of the India-Pakistan showdown at the Asia Cup 2025, acknowledging the strained political relations between the two countries.

The Asia Cup 2025 tournament, which starts 20 days from now, witnessed increased attention, primarily due to the upcoming India and Pakistan encounter in Dubai. Recently, the political relations between both countries were strained following the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent retaliatory Operation Sindoor.

Calls for the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott the match against Pakistan were on the rise. Critics appealed for the BCCI to prioritize national sentiment ahead of the game. However, the game is scheduled to proceed as planned.

In the context of the tense atmosphere, the Pakistani team’s head coach and selectors announced a 17-member squad that excluded Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. Despite their absence, Aqib Javed expressed confidence in the selected squad’s ability to defeat India in the tournament.

The Men’s Asia Cup, beginning on 9th September in the UAE, features India, Oman, Pakistan, and the UAE in Group A. Group B consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. India has retained the hosting rights for the tournament, with the finals scheduled for 28th September at the Dubai International Stadium.

Aqib quipped, “This team has the ability to beat India in the Asia Cup. The match between India and Pakistan is the world’s biggest cricketing showdown. Our squad can beat any team. Everyone is prepared. Everyone is aware of the political situation between the two nations. But we won’t subject them to extra pressure.”

The strained relations between India and Pakistan worsened following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists. This led to increased calls for India to sever all ties with Pakistan, be it sports or entertainment. The unexpected announcement of the Asia Cup’s schedule by the Asian Cricket Council’s chief, Mohsin Naqvi, heightened the tensions.

Several Indian MPs have suggested that BCCI should cancel the match against Pakistan. Additionally, the scheduled match between the India Champions and Pakistan Champions at the World Championship of Legends 2025 was cancelled due to public outrage on social media. The India Champions later withdrew from the semi-final against Pakistan, granting the latter team a walkover in the tournament.