India vs Pakistan: Is the Cricket Boycott Still On?
Just days ago, the India Champions team made headlines after refusing to play Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) semifinal. The decision came in response to the Pahalgam terror attack, with players citing national sentiment and saying, “Country first.” Fans lauded the move, calling it a bold message of solidarity. But now the narrative seems to be shifting.
Reports confirm that Suryakumar Yadav will captain India in the 2025 Asia Cupstarting on September 9 in the UAE. Although recovering from injury, Surya is expected to be fit in time. India’s tournament opener is on September 10, with a high-profile clash against Pakistan scheduled for September 14.
WCL Boycott vs Asia Cup Participation
If both teams progress, India could face Pakistan up to three times in the tournament. In contrast to the WCL decision, this time the national team is fully preparing for all matches. This contrast has sparked debate. Why was a Pakistan match unacceptable in WCL but fine now?
The key difference is the scale and context. The Asia Cup is an official ACC tournament with major sponsors, global TV deals, and millions of fans. The BCCI cannot withdraw as easily as retired legends could in a private event like the WCL.
India has avoided bilateral series with Pakistan for years, but continues to face them in ICC and ACC tournaments. The pattern is clear—friendship series are avoided, but competitive tournament clashes continue under international pressure.
Fans Question the Mixed Messaging
India Champions made an emotional decision by skipping the WCL semifinal. However, with Team India preparing to face Pakistan in a much bigger setting, the consistency of that message is now being questioned.
Is the boycott principle only applied when the stakes are low? If “country first” is the rule, should it depend on the size of the tournament or its commercial value? These are the questions fans are now asking as the Asia Cup approaches.
