Follow UsThere have been several criticisms of India playing against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. People are calling the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) selfish, money-minded and even traitors of the nation for not boycotting Pakistan.
It is in this environment that the BCCI secretary, Devajit Saikia, decided to explain as to why India must play Pakistan for the future of India’s sporting prowess and growth.
"We have decided to participate in the Asia Cup because it is a multinational competition. It is just like an Olympics, any FIFA tournament, AFC tournament, or International Athletics Tournament. We cannot boycott the multinational tournament because it will bring a lot of negativity for all our future endeavours of hosting any multinational tournament," Saikia was quoted as saying to Hindustan Times.
"We do not have a direct call or direct decision about whether to play or not to play. Had it been a bilateral tournament, we could have always said that we would not play against any hostile country. We are playing it because otherwise, the whole tournament will get diluted."
Saikia, who represents Assam Cricket Association (ACA) and who is a lawyer by profession, joined BCCI as Honorary Secretary after Jay Shah, his predecessor, was elected ICC President.
A former ACA Secretary, Saikia, who is close to the party in power at the centre, also diverted the topic towards the central government.
"We follow that guideline of the central government, and we are following it because it is in the interest of the game, whether it is cricket, football, athletics, boxing, badminton and the players involved in those games,” he said.
India could potentially face Pakistan as many as three times in the Asia Cup 2025.