“Players are helpless in this”- Sunil Gavaskar on India vs Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025 controversy

Sunil Gavaskar didn’t rule out the possibility of India pulling out of the clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025.

Indian legend Sunil Gavaskar has stated that Indian players and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are not to be blamed as they got the permission from the Government of India to play Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025 tournament.

India have been placed in Group A with Oman, UAE, and Pakistan and are slated to play Pakistan on September 14 in this year’s Asia Cup that begins on September 9 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Following the Pahalgam terror attack, this would be the first time the cricket teams from the two countries will face one another. Given the possibility of a rematch in the Super 4 stage on September 21 and the final following the group stages, India and Pakistan might face off up to three times during the tournament.

Given the existing tensions with Pakistan, some have questioned whether India should have completely boycotted the competition. Only ICC events or continental tournaments like the Asia Cup have allowed the two countries to play each other.

“I don’t see how the players can be criticized.”- Sunil Gavaskar on India vs Pakistan in the Asia Cup

Following confirmation that India would take part despite increased cross-border tensions following the recent terrorist incident in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed multiple visitors, the criticism grew more intense.

Speaking on the subject, Sunil Gavaskar emphasized that the players only follow orders from the Indian government and the BCCI and have no voice in these choices.

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

“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,” Gavaskar told India Today.

When asked whether the Indian team would pull out of their match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, Sunil Gavaskar didn’t rule it out but stated that the final decision lies with the Indian government.

“Like I said, it is entirely up to the government of India to tell the BCCI what to do,” he remarked.

India will open their campaign against the UAE on September 10.

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