Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has said that playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup is not the choice of Indian players but rather a compulsion.
Speaking in defense of the players, Gavaskar stated that they should not be criticized for taking part in matches against Pakistan, as such decisions are beyond their control. He explained that players act on the instructions of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the government. “If the government makes a decision, then why are the players being targeted with criticism?” Gavaskar asked.
He further added that the cricketers are contracted with the BCCI and simply follow directives. “In this matter, the players are helpless. If the government tells them to play, they will play. If the government asks them not to, they won’t,” Gavaskar emphasized.
It is worth mentioning that the Indian cricket board has announced its squad for the Asia Cup 2025.
India squad: Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, wicketkeeper-batter Jitesh Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson, Harshit Singh Rana, and Rinku Singh.
Pakistan vs India clash in Asia Cup: The much-anticipated match between Pakistan and India is scheduled for September 14. If both teams qualify for the Super Four stage, they are likely to meet again on September 21, and if they make it to the final, a third encounter could take place on September 28.
