‘If you don’t play bilateral, don’t play competitions either’ – Azharuddin on India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clash

Former Indian cricketer Mohammad Azharuddin has generated debate by wondering why India is playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup while bilateral cricket between the two countries remains halted owing to ongoing political concerns.

Azharuddin advocated for consistency in cricket ties, claiming that if the two countries are hesitant to play bilateral series, they should also avoid competing in international events. He emphasised that cricket engagements should be consistent, not selective.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has scheduled an Asia Cup 2025 match between India and Pakistan on September 14. The highly anticipated clash is expected to generate a lot of attention.

“I usually say that everything should happen, and if it doesn’t, nothing should happen.

Azharuddin believes that if you are not playing bilateral matches, you should not participate in international competitions either.

India and Pakistan have only faced each other in ICC or ACC events and have not played a bilateral series since the 2012–13 season. Azharuddin emphasised this inconsistency in scheduling, reiterating the need for a unified stance on cricketing ties between the two nations. He also clarified that the recent withdrawal of India Champions from their scheduled clash against Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 was unrelated to ACC-sanctioned cricket.

“This is a matter for the board and the government. 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,” Azharduddin added.

Meanwhile, the Asia Cup 2025 is set to be held in the UAE. The tournament will feature eight teams split into two groups. Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. The competition begins on September 9 with Afghanistan taking on Hong Kong. The top teams from each group will progress to the Super Four stage, with the final set to take place on September 28.