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"We Have To Play": BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia Confirms India-Pakistan Clash In Asia Cup 2025

Debashis Sarangi

India and Pakistan are set to clash on the 14th [Source: @Oam_16/X]India and Pakistan are set to clash on the 14th [Source: @Oam_16/X]

In a massive development, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has dismissed any possibilities of India backing out from the much-anticipated encounter against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. There were large doubts about whether the Indian players would take the field alongside their Pakistani counterparts in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory military strike in response to Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in Pahalgam. 

BCCI Secretary Provides Key Details On Indo-Pak Asia Cup Match

India and Pakistan's strained geopolitical relationship affected their cricketing ties. The situation worsened when the Indian contingent refused to play against their Pakistani counterparts amid backlash in the World Championship of Legends. 

The Pakistani team also refused to travel to India for the ongoing Hockey Asia Cup competition. In such a scenario, fans were curious about the BCCI and the Indian men's cricket team's stance ahead of the marquee tournament in the UAE. 

However, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia revealed that the Asia Cup encounter between India and Pakistan will proceed as planned. Speaking to ANI, Saikia stated that the Indian Government hasn't restricted the cricket team from playing Pakistan in multinational events. 

So, the BCCI will adhere to the Indian Government's decision, allowing the Indian team to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup as well as ICC tournaments.

"So far as the BCCl's view is concerned, we have to follow whatever the central government formalises. Recently, our policy, which is in place, regarding India's participation in any multinational tournament or international tournament, there is no restrictions imposed by the central government whether we play any of the countries which are not on good terms with India. So India have to play all the matches in any multinational tournament," Saikia was quoted as saying by ANI. 
"As the Asia Cup is a multinational tournament involving the countries of the Asia continent, so we have to play. And also, for any ICC tournament, when there is a country which is not on friendly terms with India, we have to play in the international tournaments. So far as bilateral is concerned, we are not going to play with any of our hostile countries," he added. 

India and Pakistan might have multiple clashes in the Asia Cup 2025. While their group-stage affair will be played on September 14, the arch-rivals might again face each other in the Super Four and final, provided they qualify for the same.