New Delhi: Indian media, former cricketers, and politicians are expressing significant dismay and discontent over the upcoming Asia Cup, with a growing chorus demanding that the Modi government boycott the tournament.
This backlash intensified following the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi’s recent meeting and the subsequent announcement of the event, putting the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) under immense pressure.
Indian media outlets are claiming that the Modi government is unwilling to grant Pakistan a walkover in the Asia Cup, asserting that under no circumstances will Pakistan be allowed to win by default. They argue that if Pakistan were given a walkover, they would emerge victorious, which is deemed unacceptable.
A dominant sentiment among Indian media is that the Asia Cup is “India’s tournament” and that India should not play against Pakistan in it. They contend that if India doesn’t participate, the tournament cannot proceed, and Pakistan’s involvement in an event hosted by India is “unacceptable at any cost.”
The demand for a boycott has also resonated within Indian parliamentary circles. Opposition parties in the Indian Parliament have criticized the Modi government, questioning why cricket ties are continuing when “everything else, including trade with Pakistan, has been suspended.”
It’s important to note that the Asia Cup will be played in the UAE, hosted by India, starting from September 9th. In this tournament, Pakistan and India are slated to face each other at least twice, and potentially up to three times.
