Sourav Ganguly Backs India-Pakistan Clash in Asia Cup Despite Criticism

Former Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly has voiced his support for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter in the upcoming Asia Cup, calling for sports to remain unaffected by political tensions.

In a conversation with Indian media, Ganguly stated that incidents like the one in Pahalgam should not be repeated. He emphasized that while terrorism must be firmly dealt with, sporting ties should continue uninterrupted.

“India has always maintained a strong stance against terrorism, but cricket must go on,” said the former skipper. He further added that he has no issues with India and Pakistan being placed in the same group for the Asia Cup.

The official schedule for the Asia Cup was released on Saturday. Group A includes Pakistan, India, UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

As per the format, Pakistan and India could face each other a minimum of two times and potentially up to three times during the tournament.

The Asia Cup is set to begin on September 9 in the UAE, with the first high-voltage India-Pakistan clash scheduled for September 14.

The announcement sparked backlash in Indian media circles, with some calling on the government and cricket board to boycott matches against Pakistan—echoing previous calls made during international tournaments like the World Champions League.

Several former Indian cricketers have also criticized the decision to play against Pakistan, despite Ganguly’s call to separate politics from sport.