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Cricket fans across the world are divided as India gears up to play against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. This will be Team India’s first match against Pakistan since the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
Actor Suniel Shetty threw his weight behind Team India and defended BCCI’s decision of not boycotting the Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025. Speaking to IANS, he said, “It’s a world sporting body. So you’ll have to, they’ll have to abide by those rules and regulations because there’s a lot of other sports and a lot of athletes, a lot of people who are involved in it. As Indians, I think that is our personal call that we have to take, whether we want to see it, whether we don’t want to see it, whether we want to go or not go. You cannot blame cricketers for playing because they are sportsmen, they are expected to represent the country. It’s a world sporting body, you cannot blame BCCI for it. You can’t blame anybody.”
Actor Zayed Khan echoed the same sentiment and cheered for Team India ahead of the upcoming match. He said in a press conference, “India is going to outshine everyone, you know what I mean. I believe India is a fantastic team and mujhe lagta hai ki 100 per cent India jeetne waali hai, (I think India is going to win 100 per cent).”
When asked if India should continue playing Pakistan despite political tensions, he replied, “Kyun nahin yaar. Sports sports hote hain. Usme kya hai. Vahan jitne thode bahut sambandh ban sakte hain, banne do (Why not, friend. Sports is sports. What’s the big deal in that? Let whatever little relationships can be formed there, be formed).”
However, Indian Film and Television Directors’ Association (IFTDA) president Ashoke Pandit had a different opinion and strongly opposed the match. Calling it a “black day” for the country, he told ANI, “It is a black day for this country. We cannot be this insensitive. Our cricketers should have this much shame; money is not everything. I want to say to all the cricketers that the people you play for have their hands covered with blood, and that blood is of Indians.”
He further spoke about how India has faced attacks for decades and said such decisions are “insulting” to fallen soldiers. He said, “Over the past 40 years, the attacks on our nation have been constant. The government can give any reason or tell any rule, but it won’t go down our throats. You are taking all this lightly because no one from your own family has been attacked. It is an insult to all those security forces who have lost their lives for this nation. We have appealed to the television channels not to broadcast this match.”
Actor Raveena Tandon also shared the same sentiment and wrote on her Instagram stories, “Hope the team wears black bands and takes a knee. A minutes silence for the fallen. And then take a victory. @indiancricketteam #bcci.”
The much-anticipated India vs Pakistan match is scheduled for September 14 at 8 pm IST at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The Indian team will be led by Suryakumar Yadav, marking his first outing as captain against Pakistan.
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