Should India Play Cricket with Pakistan Amid Rising Tensions? MPs Weigh In

Debate on Cricket Ties with Pakistan Intensifies

New Delhi: In light of the escalating tensions with Pakistan, MPs Arvind Sawant (SS-UBT) and Asaduddin Owaisi (AIMIM) voiced their concerns in the Lok Sabha on Monday, suggesting that India should avoid cricket matches with its neighbor.

Their remarks come as the Asia Cup 2025 approaches, scheduled to take place in the UAE from September 9 to 28, where India and Pakistan are set to compete in the same group.

During a special discussion regarding the Pahalgam terror attacks and Operation Sindoor, Sawant questioned why India ceased military actions against Pakistan when it was in a position of strength, suggesting that this was a missed opportunity to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).

He emphasized that now is the time for India to assert itself, similar to the decisive actions taken by Indira Gandhi during the 1971 conflict.

Sawant expressed that engaging in cricket with Pakistan, a nation that has inflicted pain on India, would be inappropriate.

The Asia Cup will feature T20 matches, serving as a precursor to the 2026 T20 World Cup set to be hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Sawant lamented that during Operation Sindoor, India received no support from other nations, while China and Turkiye sided with Pakistan.

Despite India's objections, he noted that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has granted a loan to Pakistan, which is facing economic difficulties.

Echoing similar sentiments, AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi also opposed the idea of playing cricket with Pakistan given the current circumstances.

He referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi's statement that blood and water cannot coexist, and that terrorism and dialogue cannot happen simultaneously.

Owaisi questioned how a cricket match could occur when Pakistan's aircraft and boats are barred from Indian airspace and waters, and trade has ceased. He expressed his moral objection to watching such a match.

He challenged the government to confront the families of the 25 deceased from Operation Sindoor and justify playing a cricket match with Pakistan afterward, calling the situation deeply troubling.