Latest news with #Kaneria
Express Tribune
3 days ago
- Sport
- Express Tribune
Azharuddin questions Ind's stance
Former captain Mohammad Azharuddin suggests if India are not playing bilateral matches, they should refrain from playing Pakistan in multilateral tournaments. Photo: AFP/File 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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First Post
4 days ago
- Sport
- First Post
'Stop using patriotism when it suits you': Danish Kaneria blasts India cricketers after clash against Pakistan confirmed in Asia Cup
Former Pakistani bowler Danish Kaneria slammed Indian cricketers for withdrawing from the WCL game against Pakistan legends. Kaneria's censure came after Asia Cup announcement. read more Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria launched scathing criticism at Indian cricketers for boycotting the WCL game against Pakistan, which was scheduled to happen on July 20 in Birmingham. Kaneria's censure has come after it was confirmed on Saturday that the two nations will collide in the Asia Cup 2025. Both India and Pakistan will be placed in the same group, hence a clash will prevail in the UAE. Danish Kaneria hits out at India legends Kaneria took to the social media platform X and called the Indian players' act as 'propaganda' rather than 'patriotism.' 'Indian players boycotted WCL and called it 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.' STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD BCCI's stance on ties with Pakistan cricket questioned Kaneria's post seemingly targeted the likes of Shikhar Dhawan, Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, and others, who pulled out of playing the game against the Pakistan Legends in the World Championship of Legends in July, citing national sentiment. Now that BCCI is on board with the Asia Cup tournament, where the India vs Pakistan clash is slated to be held on September 14, contrasting cases have emanated, leading to questions on the consistency related to India's stance on cricketing ties with Pakistan. , the BCCI has faced intense backlash from Indian cricket fans on social media for agreeing to participate in a tournament featuring Pakistan. The board has drawn flak for its decision, especially after it was revealed that India and Pakistan will be in the same group. The fans are upset, given the strained relations between the two countries, particularly after the Pahalgam terror attack, which has further severed the cricketing ties.
NDTV
4 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
"If Patriotism Matters...": BCCI Slammed By Ex Pakistan Star Over Asia Cup Stand
Former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria, while sharing his take on the Asia Cup schedule which was long mired in controversy and debate, stated that India-Pakistan clash likely came after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) received approval from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). In the detailed fixtures announced by the ACC on Saturday, India and Pakistan are set to meet in the Asia Cup group stage clash on September 14. The announcement came just days after a highly sensitive episode involving the India Champions team, which had withdrawn from a scheduled clash against Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends. "Cricket should happen (between the two countries)... People are talking about it because a recent incident occurred where there was supposed to be an India-Pakistan match at the World Championship of Legends, but ex-India cricketers boycotted the match. That move hinted that perhaps India would also skip playing Pakistan in future events like the Asia Cup or even ICC tournaments. The boycott made headlines, and many statements followed, creating an impression that India might not participate in matches against Pakistan. "But then there was an online meeting where Mohsin Naqvi - who is both the PCB chairman and the head of the Asian Cricket Council - and BCCI representatives were present. The ACC must have received a green signal from the BCCI, which is why the India-Pakistan match was scheduled," Kaneria told IANS. Kaneria believes BCCI should have taken more time and consulted top leadership before committing to such a high-stakes fixture. "I believe the BCCI should have given it more thought and taken time before making a decision. There shouldn't be double standards - sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you're talking about patriotism, then you have to stand by it consistently. From now until the day of that match, you'll see the hype and chaos build up. And then people will start questioning the earlier stand taken by the cricketers. "Either say clearly that sports and politics are separate, or maintain a firm stand across the board. No double standards. If it's no, then let it be no. If it's yes, then say yes and stand by it," he said. Kaneria said the absence of India from a tournament affects everything - from TV rights and sponsorships to global viewership. "At the end of the day, what difference does it make to the BCCI? They generate nearly 99 per cent of the cricketing revenue. The top cricketing nations - Australia, England, South Africa, New Zealand - they all want to play India because their players are part of the IPL, which is the biggest and most lucrative league in the world. "Let's face it: if India doesn't participate, TV rights don't sell, advertisements drop, and the viewership takes a hit. Just one India-Pakistan game draws astronomical viewership..." Kaneria added. He concluded by saying that the BCCI should adopt a transparent and consistent approach. "When you're in a position of power, you need to be able to distinguish and define - either cricket is separate, or it isn't. If patriotism matters, it must be consistent. Not for a day, not for a week, but always. You can't change your stance every few weeks. Once a decision is made, stand by it. That's what I didn't understand - why was the decision taken so quickly?"
Mint
4 days ago
- Politics
- Mint
BCCI called ‘double standards' after Asia Cup 2025 nod for India vs Pakistan; ‘can't change your stance every few weeks'
Former Pakistan cricketer Danish Kaneria has slammed the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), calling it 'double standards' for giving a green light for the high-profile Indo-Pak cricket match in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, set to be held in United Arab Emirates (UAE) on September 14. Kaneria comments came in after the India vs Pakistan clash in the ongoing World Championship of Legends (WCL) was cancelled following a social media uproar and the withdrawal of several Indian players following the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor, couple of months back. The dates of the Asia Cup 2025 were finalised after an ACC meeting in Dhaka on July 24, where BCCI had also participated. The Indian board was represented by vice-president Rajeev Shukla, who joined through video call since the BCCI refused to travel to Bangladesh citing security reasons. 'People are talking about it because a recent incident occurred where there was supposed to be an India vs Pakistan match at the World Championship of Legends, but ex-India cricketers boycotted the match. That move hinted that perhaps India would also skip playing Pakistan in future events like the Asia Cup or even ICC tournaments. The boycott made headlines, and many statements followed, creating an impression that India might not participate in matches against Pakistan,' Kaneria told IANS. "But then there was an online meeting where Mohsin Naqvi - who is both the PCB chairman and the head of the Asian Cricket Council - and BCCI representatives were present. The ACC must have received a green signal from the BCCI, which is why the India-Pakistan match was scheduled," added the former Pakistan leg-spinner. Kaneria maintained that BCCI should have been consistent in decision making and adopt a transparent approach. 'If patriotism matters, it must be consistent. Not for a day, not for a week, but always. You can't change your stance every few weeks. There shouldn't be double standards - sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you're talking about patriotism, then you have to stand by it consistently,' said Kaneria.
India Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- India Today
IND vs PAK boycotted in WCL, but gets Asia Cup go-ahead: Kaneria slams hypocrisy
Danish Kaneria has slammed the Indian players for boycotting the match against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends, but having no issue with playing them in the Asia Cup. On July 20, ahead of the India vs Pakistan game in the WCL, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and others decided to pull out of the contest in the aftermath of the backlash they faced on social media. advertisementThis was supposed to be the first cricketing match featuring the neighbouring countries after Operation Sindhoor. The match was then cancelled altogether by the organisers. However, when it comes to the Asia Cup, India is set to be grouped with Pakistan and the two teams could face each other three times during the course of the tournament. Two teams from each group will qualify for the Super Four stage. In the Super Fours, each team will face the other three once. Two teams from the Super Four stage will play the final, which is set to be played on September 28. Kaneria was unhappy with this and took to X to call out the hypocrisy. The former Pakistan spinner said that if cricket with Pakistan is ok then the WCL game should have gone ahead as well. Kaneria told not to use patriotism according to the situation. "Indian players boycotted WCL and called it 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," tweeted Kaneria. (Credit: Kaneria X) Shreevats Goswami on India vs Pakistan in Asia CupFormer Bengal wicketkeeper Shreevats Goswami said that India should forfeit the game against Pakistan and allow them to qualify. Goswami feels that the only reason India is participating is because they want to help the other teams economically. The former Bengal wicketkeeper feels that if India will go on to play Pakistan in the Asia Cup then it will anger the fans. "My read on the Asia cup going forward is India to & must forfeit the game against Pakistan& let them qualify. We don't need to win the Asia cup. The only reason India is participating cause it helps other nations economically or else I don't see any reason. Ideally this is what should & must happen & if India decides to play against pak it will make the nation angry ! It should !" said Goswami on X. (Credit: Shreevats Goswami X) India and Pakistan are all set to play on September 14, according to the proposed schedule for the Asia Cup this year. - EndsTune InMust Watch
