Former Indian cricket captain and ex-BCCI president Sourav Ganguly has voiced support for the upcoming India-Pakistan encounter in the Asia Cup 2025. While firmly condemning terrorism, he emphasized that sporting events should not come to a halt.
Sourav Ganguly said, “I’m fine with the match. Sports must continue. Incidents like Pahalgam should not occur, and terrorism must be stopped. India has already taken a strong position on the matter, but sports should carry on.”
The Asia Cup is scheduled to begin on September 9, with the final slated for September 28. Though India is the official host, the T20 tournament will be held in the UAE under a mutual agreement between India and Pakistan to hold multilateral games at neutral venues.
India and Pakistan are placed in the same group alongside UAE and Oman, ensuring they will face each other at least twice — once during the group stage and again in the Super 4 round. A third meeting is possible if both sides make it to the final.
This development comes shortly after a World Championship of Legends match between India Champions and Pakistan Champions was cancelled due to geopolitical tensions. Several Indian players, including Shikhar Dhawan, opted out of the game. Dhawan reaffirmed his stance, saying, “I stand by my May 11 decision. My country means everything to me, and nothing comes above it.”
Earlier this month, Asia Cricket Council (ACC) Chairman and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) President Mohsin Naqvi confirmed the tournament dates via a post on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “This year marks another major milestone for the ACC… Expect the Asia Cup at its finest.”