Opposition slams BJP, BCCI over India-Pakistan Asia Cup match
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Mumbai: Opposition parties in Maharashtra have criticized the BJP and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over India’s upcoming Asia Cup clash with Pakistan on September 14, questioning the government’s stance on ties with the neighboring country.
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray said India should not play Pakistan while the latter continues to sponsor terrorism. “The BCCI is becoming anti-national. Why is the BCCI so excited about playing with Pakistan? Is it because of greed for money, TV revenue, advertisement revenue, or is it for the fees of players?” he asked. He also urged broadcasters to boycott the match.
Thackeray accused the BJP of shifting its ideology, pointing out that Pakistan had once boycotted the Asia Cup because it was hosted in India. “Had the real BJP been in power, it would not have allowed it. The BJP has changed its ideology. If blood and water cannot flow together, how can cricket and blood be together?” he said in a post on X.
The Maharashtra Congress termed the match an insult to soldiers killed in terror attacks, including the recent one in Pahalgam. Allowing the game to go ahead is a diplomatic failure, party spokesperson Sachin Sawant said. He also criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging he had softened his stance compared to his earlier statement that “blood and water cannot flow together.”
The Sharad Pawar-led NCP (SP) said the government’s “double standards” had been exposed. Spokesperson Jitendra Awhad argued that the ruling party often used India-Pakistan relations for politics but was now allowing the match to proceed, reported PTI.
Responding to the criticism, Maharashtra minister and cricket administrator Ashish Shelar defended the BCCI’s decision, saying international tournaments could not be dictated by political stand-offs. “Our stand has always been clear that the Indian cricket team will not undertake a tour of Pakistan and vice versa. However, we cannot restrict our team from playing or participating in an international tournament. What sort of stand is this? It is not an appropriate stand,” he said.
Shelar accused Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut of taking an “anti-India” stance and recalled that late Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray had once hosted former Pakistan cricketer Javed Miandad at his residence.
Thackeray had earlier announced that his party would hold a “Sindoor Raksha” protest on September 14 against India’s match with Pakistan in Abu Dhabi as part of the Asia Cup.