Asia Cup 2025 / Anurag Thakur's answer on the threat of being out of the tournament... blood and sports don't go together

Asia Cup 2025: Ahead of the India-Pakistan match of the Asia Cup to be held in Dubai on 14 September 2025, there is a political uproar in India. Opposition parties are demanding the cancellation of this match citing the Pahalgam terror attack, while the central government and BJP are being accused of adopting a double standard. Meanwhile, BJP MP Anurag Thakur has put forward the government's side regarding the match, in response to which opposition leaders have given sharp reactions.

Anurag Thakur's statement

BJP MP Anurag Thakur clarified his position on the issue, saying, "When multinational tournaments are organized by the ACC or ICC, it becomes mandatory for countries to participate in them. If we do not do so, we will be out of the tournament and the other team will get the points." He also added that India has decided not to play bilateral cricket tournaments with Pakistan until Pakistan stops terrorist attacks on India.

AAP's attack on the Centre

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Sanjeev Jha targeted the central government and said, "When Operation Sindoor was going on, insulting pictures of the Pakistani Army Chief were made viral. Does the BJP believe that we will tolerate the insult of our sisters? We are opposing this match because the country has still not forgotten the wounds of the Pahalgam attack." He questioned the BJP whether their leaders sitting in the ICC and BCCI are in favor of playing cricket despite this insult.

Kejriwal's question on PM Modi

AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal took a dig at PM Modi on this issue and said, "The whole country is saying that this match should not happen. Still why is it happening? Is this happening under Trump's pressure? After all, how much will you bow down to Trump?" Kejriwal sought clarification from the central government on this decision.

Sharp opposition from Shiv Sena (UBT)

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray made serious allegations against the BJP regarding this match. He said, "The wounds of the Pahalgam attack are still fresh. We thought we would break Pakistan, Operation Sindoor was carried out, but Pakistan continues to attack." Thackeray questioned the BJP whether Operation Sindoor has been stopped. Targeting Home Minister Amit Shah, he said, "You called Qureshi the sister of Pakistanis. Will you define Hindutva? This is a chance to tell the world that we are against terrorism."

He also said that his father Balasaheb Thackeray was strongly against India-Pakistan cricket matches. Referring to Sushma Swaraj and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Thackeray said that if they were alive today, perhaps this situation would not have happened. He appealed to the countrymen to boycott this match.

प्रधान मंत्री जी को पाकिस्तान के साथ मैच करवाने की आख़िर क्या ज़रूरत है? सारा देश कह रहा है कि ये मैच नहीं होना चाहिए। फिर ये मैच क्यों करवाया जा रहा है?

क्या ये भी ट्रम्प के दबाव में किया जा रहा है? आख़िर ट्रम्प के आगे कितना झुकोगे? https://t.co/Wy8LPOBlHE

— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) September 13, 2025