Game must go on: Akram on Ind-Pak clash

Both Pakistan and India are set to clash on September 14 in Dubai. Photo: AFP/File

Legendary Pakistan fast bowler Wasim Akram has said that whether or not India faces Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, cricket must continue.

Speaking on the Stick With Cricket Podcast, Akram addressed the controversy surrounding the tournament schedule.

“Asia Cup schedule is out, there is backlash. But we in Pakistan are calm. We will be fine whether we play or don’t play. The game must go on,” Akram said.

The former captain also expressed hope for the revival of bilateral cricket between the two arch-rivals.

“I hope to see a Test series between India and Pakistan in my lifetime,” he said.

“Politics apart, I am not a politician. They are patriotic about their country, we are patriotic about ours. Let’s not go below the belt. Talk about the triumphs of your country; the same goes for Pakistan and the same goes for India. It is easier said than done.”

‘Players are helpless'

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that players are “helpless” when it comes to decisions about whether the men in blue should face Pakistan in international cricket.

The debate over the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 encounter between the two arch-rivals has intensified following the unforseen tensions between both the countries, which further strained bilateral relations.

Social media has since been flooded with calls to boycott Pakistan across all sports, including cricket.

Even in the Legends League, the India Champions side opted not to play against Pakistan. However, in the Asia Cup, a face-off remains on the cards, with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirming the team’s participation when announcing the squad on August 19.

Speaking to the Indian media, Gavaskar emphasised that players have no say in such matters and must follow directions.

“If the government has taken a call, I don’t see how the players can be criticised or commented upon, because the players at the end of the day are contracted to the BCCI and they will be taking instructions from the government of India. So it entirely depends on that,” Gavaskar said.

“The players are helpless in this. They’ve been selected to play in the Asia Cup, and if the government says you have to play, then they will go out and play. If the government says you don’t, then the BCCI will act accordingly,” he added.

The Asia Cup will be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi from September 9 to 28, featuring eight teams split into two groups. Group A includes India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

Dubai will host 11 matches, while Abu Dhabi will stage eight. The tournament opens on September 9 with Afghanistan facing Hong Kong in Abu Dhabi.

India will begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10 in Dubai, followed by the much-anticipated clash against Pakistan on September 14. Their final group-stage fixture against Oman is scheduled for September 19 in Abu Dhabi.

The Super Four stage will take place from September 20 to 26, with the final set for September 28 in Dubai.

Pakistan squad: Saim Ayub, Fakhar Zaman, Salman Ali Agha (C), Abrar Ahmed, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Hasan Ali, Hasan Nawaz, Hussain Talat, Khushdil Shah, Mohammad Haris (WK), Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Wasim Jr., Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Mirza, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Sufiyan Muqeem.

India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Shubman Gill (vc), Hardik Pandya, Arshdeep Singh, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube , Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy , Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson.

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