Following the recent terror strike in Pahalgam, India-Pakistan tensions have increased yet again—this time with serious consequences for international cricket. The Asia Cup 2025, which was to be played later this year, is now in jeopardy, with rumors growing that Pakistan might be kept out of the competition as an indirect casualty of the worsening political and security situation.
The Pahalgam attack, in which a number of Indian security personnel lost their lives, has unleashed mass outrage throughout India. Although investigations are ongoing, initial reports point to the hand of Pakistan-based terror outfits, resulting in a surge of anti-Pakistan feeling throughout both political and popular circles. This has spilled over into the sporting arena—something where India and Pakistan have traditionally had a delicate and highly politicized relationship.
Cricket Under Fire
There is increasing unease at high levels in the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) about playing a tournament that includes Pakistan in the wake of a terror strike allegedly involving elements based across the border.
“Two nations cannot be at virtual war and then share a cricket pitch a few weeks later,” a senior BCCI official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said. “Sports are supposed to cut across politics, but security and public opinion cannot be overlooked—particularly when there have been lives lost.”
India has not played a bilateral series against Pakistan since 2012, and all recent matches have been confined to ICC or ACC (Asian Cricket Council) events. The upcoming Asia Cup, however, was one of the only platforms where the two nations could face each other on neutral turf. That is now extremely unlikely.
Increasing Calls for Boycott
On social media and in some political quarters, there is rising pressure on India to be firm. There are hashtags such as #BoycottPakistan and #NoCricketWithTerror doing the rounds on Indian networks, calling for the government and BCCI to deny participation in any match against Pakistan, or even go so far as to call for their exclusion from the Asia Cup.
BJP MP and ex-cricketer Gautam Gambhir seconded the people’s view, saying, “There is no reason to be playing on the cricket pitch when our jawans are being attacked. We must give a strong message—not diplomatically alone, but on every front, including sports.”
Pakistan’s Response
For its part, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has rejected the rumor as “politically motivated”. In a statement, the PCB said: “Cricket must not become a victim of geopolitics. The Asia Cup is a venue for peace and harmony in the region. Any attempt to boycott Pakistan would be a betrayal of the game’s spirit.”
Pakistan has also approached the Asian Cricket Council for intervention, appealing to the administration to make sure that cricket is kept “above politics.”
The ACC’s Conundrum
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC), led by Jay Shah, who is also the BCCI Secretary, now finds itself between a rock and a hard place. Although there has been no official word, internal discussions are reportedly underway over the participation pattern and venue fixtures of the tournament.
According to reports, among the solutions that are being contemplated is hosting matches against Pakistan at a neutral venue, perhaps Sri Lanka or the UAE, just like in the past Asia Cup tournaments. That compromise, though, may also not be acceptable politically to India in today’s environment.
What’s Next?
With the Asia Cup just months away, a final call is due shortly. Much will hinge on how the Kashmir situation develops and whether any firm connections between the Pahalgam attackers and Pakistan-based organizations are officially established.
If tensions keep escalating, the Asia Cup may witness a drastic reshuffling—or worse, cancellation or postponement. For the time being, the cricketing world keeps its fingers crossed as politics, security, and sport meet again on the subcontinent.
