Pakistan and India’s resumption of cricketing ties has been confirmed at the upcoming Asia Cup, and while many have taken offence to this development, former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly sees nothing wrong.
Brushing aside controversy and calls for a boycott, Ganguly reaffirmed that “sport must go on” despite broader geopolitical tensions.
The ACC has already confirmed the Asia Cup schedule, with the marquee clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan locked in for September 14, in the UAE, in what could be the first of three clashes. The announcement set social media abuzz and triggered another round of political debate in India, with some sections of the media and public renewing calls to boycott the fixture following recent security incidents in Kashmir.
But Sourav Ganguly, speaking to Indian news agency ANI, dismissed the idea of shelving the contest on political grounds. “I’m okay with the schedule,” said the former BCCI president. “Sport must continue. 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 said regarding Pakistan-India clash at the Asia Cup.
His comments come at a time when the BCCI, as the designated host of the tournament, faces pressure from both political factions and segments of the fanbase to pull out of the matches. However, sources within the board have confirmed that the fixture, and India’s participation, is non-negotiable, having been signed off during the recent ACC meeting in Dhaka.
“The BCCI cannot withdraw from the tournament or the match now,” said a senior official familiar with the deliberations. “The decision was agreed upon at the ACC level. Since India is the host nation, nothing can be changed at this stage.”
Significantly, the BCCI has previously denied any media reports of India’s boycott against Pakistan at the Asia Cup and has not raised any objections during or after the release of the official schedule. That silence, coupled with Ganguly’s endorsement, signals a clear intent: the blockbuster clash will go ahead as planned.
Pakistan and India have been grouped together in the upcoming Asia Cup, which begins September 9. The tournament, which will be played in the T20 format, serves as a crucial preparatory step ahead of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The September 14 encounter in Dubai remains the most intriguing fixture announced, and could prove to be the defining moment for the two Asian powerhouses.
Despite the political noise, Ganguly’s measured backing for the fixture underlines what many in cricketing circles believe: the sport must transcend politics, especially on a stage as grand as the Asia Cup.