IND vs PAK Asia Cup 2025: 69% Say No to Cricket With Pakistan

The recent terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, has left the country tense, and this feeling is also showing in how people see India–Pakistan sporting ties. As the Indian men’s cricket team prepares to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup, a large majority, 68.6 per cent of people in the India Today-CVoter Mood of the Nation survey, said they do not want any sporting ties with Pakistan.

Survey on India–Pakistan Cricket Ties After Pahalgam Attack

According to the survey, 25 per cent of respondents were in favour of continuing bilateral sporting ties, including cricket matches, with Pakistan. Only 7 per cent of respondents sat on the fence, refraining from giving a decisive response on the burning question.

Several people, including former cricketers, have asked the Indian men’s cricket team not to play their Asia Cup match against Pakistan. These calls came after tensions rose between the two countries following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, which killed 26 people, most of them tourists. After the attack, India started Operation Sindoor to destroy terror camps across the border.

There were talks that India might skip the Asia Cup, but the team chose to play at a neutral venue, the UAE. India will face Pakistan in the group stage on September 14, and they could meet up to three times if both teams reach the final.

Earlier, in July-August, India had refused to play against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends, a T20 tournament for retired cricketers in the UK.

India-Pakistan Sports Ties: No Bilateral Games, Only Neutral Grounds

Earlier this month, the Sports Ministry reminded everyone of India’s long-standing policy, no bilateral sporting events with Pakistan. The rule, however, doesn’t apply to major international competitions like the World Cup or the Olympics, where both countries play under global sports bodies.

India and Pakistan haven’t played a bilateral cricket series since 2012–13. Since then, their men’s and women’s teams have only met in multi-nation tournaments. In recent years, India has refused to travel to Pakistan for big events like the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, citing safety concerns. As a result, both tournaments were shifted to neutral venues.

On the other side, Pakistan’s hockey team pulled out of the Asia Cup Hockey that began on August 29 in Rajgir, Bihar. Even though Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey said India was ready to welcome them, Pakistan decided not to come. With India aiming to host global events like the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics, being seen as warm and welcoming hosts will be very important.

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