New Delhi: The Asia Cup 2025 India-Pakistan cricket match, scheduled for Sunday, has sparked a fierce political backlash, with Congress leaders vehemently opposing the game, invoking memories of the devastating Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Prominent voices, including Congress national spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, Saharanpur MP Imran Masood, and Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai, have condemned the match, accusing the government of prioritising commercial gains over national sentiment.
The controversy, rooted in the April 22 Pahalgam attack, has reignited public outrage, with Opposition leaders arguing that hosting the match is an affront to victims’ families.
Imran Masood expressed his anger, asserting that profiteering motives drive the government. “This match is just a business for some. Every India-Pakistan game feels like a battlefield, but now it’s about money. The government rakes in hefty profits from telecasts,” he said. Masood further questioned the government’s stance, stating, “Our sisters’ sindoor has been wiped away, their tears haven’t dried, yet you play this match? You ended cultural ties and banned TV serials; why, then, is there such insistence on playing cricket with an enemy nation?
Supriya Shrinate took to X, slamming what she called “fake outrage” by BJP supporters and others opposing the match while suggesting that commercial interests dominate. “This business will go on everywhere,” she posted, highlighting the hypocrisy in selective protests.
Meanwhile, Ajay Rai escalated the matter, urging the Supreme Court to intervene and halt the match. “Considering the people’s emotions and protests, the Supreme Court must stop this game. Our nation doesn’t want it,” he asserted.
The call for a boycott resonates beyond Congress, with other political parties echoing demands to cancel the broadcast. Social media platforms are ablaze with hashtags like #BoycottINDvPAK, reflecting widespread public discontent.
Viewed as a symbol of rivalry, the match now ignites debates on nationalism, grief, and the ethics of sporting ties with Pakistan.
As protests intensify, the BCCI faces mounting pressure to reconsider the game’s implications. The Congress leaders’ sharp critique underscores a broader sentiment: for many, cricket cannot overshadow the pain of Pahalgam’s scars. Whether the match proceeds or faces judicial scrutiny, the controversy has cast a long shadow over what was meant to be a sporting spectacle.