Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has stated that while terrorism must be condemned, sports should continue, expressing his support for India’s scheduled Asia Cup 2025 fixture against arch-rivals Pakistan.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) last week unveiled the complete schedule for the eagerly anticipated continental tournament, confirming that India and Pakistan are set to compete on September 14 in the United Arab Emirates.
Ganguly, commenting on the upcoming match, maintained that recent tragic events should not impede the progression of sports. “What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can’t let that stop the game. Terrorism must end. It’s in the past now. Sport must go on,” he affirmed.
These remarks come amidst growing calls from Indian media outlets urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to reconsider playing Pakistan following the recent militant attack in Indian-administered Kashmir. However, the BCCI has not yet issued any official statement supporting a boycott.
India Unlikely to Withdraw from Asia Cup 2025
According to sources familiar with internal developments, the BCCI had already provided formal approval during a recent ACC meeting in Dhaka to proceed with the tournament as planned. With India named as the official host of the Asia Cup, officials have reportedly ruled out the possibility of withdrawing from the high-profile fixture.
“The BCCI cannot withdraw from the tournament or the match now. The decision was agreed upon after the ACC meeting. Since India is the host nation, nothing can be changed at this stage,” a senior official confirmed.
The India-Pakistan fixture is anticipated to attract millions of viewers globally, positioning it as one of the tournament’s most significant contests. Despite the charged political climate, cricketing authorities appear committed to ensuring the match proceeds without disruption.
The Asia Cup 2025, scheduled to commence on September 9 with an opening match between Afghanistan and Hong Kong, will feature eight teams and adopt the T20 format. The tournament also serves as a crucial warm-up event ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Pakistan is set to begin their campaign against Oman on September 12, before facing the UAE in their final group-stage match on September 17.
