Azharuddin questions Ind's stance
Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin has called out the inconsistency in India's cricketing ties with Pakistan, suggesting that if bilateral matches are not possible, India should also refrain from playing Pakistan in multilateral tournaments.
Azharuddin's comments come ahead of the Asia Cup 2025, where India and Pakistan are scheduled to face off on September 14 in the UAE.
Depending on results, the two sides could potentially meet up to three times during the tournament.
"I always say that everything should happen, or if it does not happen, then it should not happen at all. If you're not playing bilateral matches, then you shouldn't play international events too — that's what I believe," Azharuddin said.
India has not played a bilateral series against Pakistan since December 2012, when the latter visited for a limited-overs series. The two last met during the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 in Dubai, where India secured a six-wicket win.
More recently, the high-profile World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 group-stage clash between India Champions and Pakistan Champions, scheduled for July 20 at Edgbaston, was called off.
The WCL confirmed the cancellation through its official social media channels.
Reports suggest that several Indian players, including Irfan Pathan, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, and ShikharDhawan, had objected to the participation of former Pakistan captain ShahidAfridi, setting preconditions that eventually led to India's withdrawal from the match.
Commenting on the ongoing debate surrounding India's participation in matches against Pakistan, the 62-year-old drew a clear distinction between official tournaments and private leagues.
"This is a matter for the board and the government," he said.
"The veterans' league is not official; it's not sanctioned by the ICC or the BCCI. It's conducted privately. But the Asia Cup is a tournament governed by the ACC," he clarified.
Kaneria takes dig at India
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has criticised India for what he perceives as a double standard in their approach to playing against Pakistan.
Kaneria took to social media platform 'X' and questioned why India withdrew from the World Championship of Legends (WCL) clash last week, citing patriotism, yet have agreed to face Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
"Indian players boycotted WCL and called it a national duty. But now Asia Cup vs Pakistan is just fine? If cricket with Pakistan is okay, then WCL should've been too. Stop using patriotism when it suits you. Let sport be sport, not propaganda," Kaneria tweeted.
Although the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is officially the host of the Asia Cup, the tournament is set to take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as part of an agreement between India and Pakistan to play only at neutral venues until at least 2027, due to ongoing cross-border tensions.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) recently unveiled the highly anticipated schedule for the Men's Asia Cup 2025, confirming that arch-rivals India and Pakistan will lock horns on September 14 in the UAE.
This edition of the continental event will follow the T20 format, serving as a crucial warm-up ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
The tournament features eight teams split into two groups. Group A consists of India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Hong Kong.
The event kicks off on September 9 with the curtain-raiser between Afghanistan and Hong Kong.
Pakistan will begin their campaign against Oman on September 12, followed by the high-voltage clash against India two days later.
If both teams finish in the top two of their group, they are likely to meet again in the Super Four stage on September 21. The final is scheduled for September 28.
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