Ex-Indian Cricketer Kedar Jadhav Wants India to Boycott Playing Pakistan in 2025 Asia Cup

Not just Kedar Jadhav, but Harbhajan Singh also urged India to boycott the Asia Cup match against Pakistan, prioritizing nation over cricket.

Ex-Indian Cricketer Kedar Jadhav Wants India to Boycott Playing Pakistan in 2025 Asia Cup

Ex-India all-rounder Kedar Jadhav stated that the India--Pakistan fixture at the Asia Cup should be boycotted. (Image via NDTV Sports)

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Former Indian all-rounder Kedar Jadhav weighed in on the controversy surrounding the scheduled India-Pakistan fixture at the upcoming 2025 Asia Cup. He believes that the team should boycott the match. Jadhav’s stance was in response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22.

The 2025 Asia Cup schedule has sparked public controversy, with Indian cricket fans outraged to learn that India and Pakistan had been placed in the same group, with the highly anticipated match between the two teams set for September 14. Initially, India was slated to host the 2025 Asia Cup, but after months of uncertainty about its participation, the UAE was confirmed as the new host in a major change.

India and Pakistan are not only scheduled to face each other in the group stage but could potentially play two more times if they both advance to the Super Four stage and the final. Since the schedule was announced, criticism has poured in, with fans slamming the BCCI for agreeing to the fixture, especially in light of the ongoing cross-border and geopolitical tensions. Earlier this year, the two countries were on the brink of war following the horrific April 22 Pahalgam terrorist attack, which claimed 26 innocent lives.

In response to the attack, the Indian government not only suspended all forms of ties with Pakistan but also launched a military operation, codenamed Operation Sindoor, which involved bombing several terrorist outposts inside Pakistan. Pakistan retaliated, engaging in a fierce cross-border standoff. The tensions lasted for several days until a ceasefire was agreed upon, but relations remain strained.

Amid this hostile environment, the India-Pakistan Asia Cup fixture was given the green light after intense negotiations between the BCCI and other member nations of the ACC. Several former players have publicly opposed the match, arguing that no further engagement should be entertained with Pakistan until the cross-border terrorism stops. Former Indian cricketer-turned-politician Kedar Jadhav suggested that the Indian team should boycott the match against Pakistan at the Asia Cup.

The 40-year-old feels that the team should boycott the match as a sign of respect for the successful Operation Sindoor. He asserted that while India has the capacity to defeat Pakistan anywhere in the world, boycotting the Asia Cup fixture would not diminish the Men in Blue’s dominance. He added that he firmly believes the players would pull out of the match, guaranteeing the match would be canceled.

I don’t think the Indian team should play… Wherever India face Pakistan, they will win anyway. But this match should definitely not go ahead. I can say with confidence that it won’t happen.

Kedar Jadhav said

Many others were also referring to the canceled WCL match between India and Pakistan, as a precedent for the 2025 Asia Cup. Two WCL matches, including a semi-final, were called off after the Indian players refused to play, citing the strained relations and the Pahalgam attack as the reasons.

Ad Rates for Television Broadcast Soar as India-Pakistan 2025 Asia Cup Match Approaches

With the highly anticipated India-Pakistan 2025 Asia Cup fixture nearing, television ad rates have reached an all-time high. Sony Sports Network, which holds the television rights for the Asia Cup matches in India, has reportedly priced its ad slots between INR 14 and 16 lakh per second.

Asia Cup ad rates
Sony Sports Network, the official broadcasters of the 2025 Asia Cup, have slapped high ad-rates. (via NDTV Sports)

For the matches featuring the Indian T20I team, including the three group stage fixtures against the UAE, Pakistan, and Oman, Sony Sports has priced the ad rates accordingly. The match between India and Pakistan, in particular, has a 10-second ad rate of INR 16 lakh. Additionally, the co-presenting television sponsorship has been priced at INR 18 crore, while the associate sponsorship is set at INR 13 crore.

The 2025 Asia Cup is expected to be a lucrative event for all sponsors who have partnered with the ACC. Saudi-based DP World will serve as the title sponsor, while other brands such as Haier, Daikin, Ozone, and Royal Stag have also been named as the official partners.

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