The arch-rivals are due to square off in the upcoming Asia Cup on September 14.
The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) unveiled the schedule for the Asia Cup 2025 last month, confirming the league stage clash between India and Pakistan will take place on September 14.
Uncertainty over the India-Pakistan clash had mounted after the India Champions team, led by Yuvraj Singh, withdrew from their scheduled WCL match against Pakistan Champions twice.
The decision was made in response to the heightened tensions between two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22.
While the BCCI is yet to release an official statement on boycotting Pakistan in the continental tournament, former India cricketer Harbhajan Singh has raised his voice against the scheduled fixture.
Offering his blunt perspective on this subject, the legendary off-spinner said while our soldiers are trying to protect the nation from Pakistan, a cricketing contest between the two nations doesn't make sense.
"They need to understand what is important and what is not. This is as simple as that. For me, the soldier who stands on the border, whose family often doesn't get to see him, who sometimes sacrifices his life and never returns home - their sacrifice is so immense for all of us. Compared to that, this is a very small thing, that we can't skip playing one cricket match. It's a very small matter," Harbhajan was quoted as saying by TOI.
"Our government has the same stance, 'Khoon aur paani ek saath nahi beh sakte.' (blood and sweat cannot co-exist). It cannot be the case that there's fighting on the border, tensions between the two nations, and we go to play cricket. Until these big issues are resolved, cricket is a very small matter. The nation always comes first," he added.
While the BCCI has its 'cricketing reasons' to follow the schedule, Harbhajan feels nothing is 'bigger than the nation'.
"Whatever our identity is, it's because of this country. Whether you are a player, an actor, or anyone else, no one is bigger than the nation. The country comes first, and the duties we owe to it must be fulfilled. Cricket match na khelna bahut maamuli si cheez hai desh ke saamne (Not playing a cricket match is nothing compared to the importance of the nation)," said Harbhajan.
"They need to understand what is important and what is not. This is as simple as that. For me, humare desh ka wo jawan jo sarhad par khada hua hai, unki families jo kayi baar unko nahi dekh paati hain, unki shahadat ho jaati hai, wo ghar wapas nahi laut paate hain - unki itni badi sacrifice hoti hai hum sabke liye. Toh ye to bahut chhoti si baat hai ki hum ek cricket match na chhod sakein (For me, the soldier who stands on the border, whose family often doesn't get to see him, who sometimes sacrifices his life and never returns home - their sacrifice is so immense for all of us)," he stated.
"Humare sarhad pe bhai khade hue hain, jo hume protect kar rahe hain, humare desh ko protect kar rahe hain — unke hausle dekho, wo kitna bada dil leke waha pe khade hue hain. Aur unke parivaar par kya beetati hai jab wo ghar wapas nahi aate. Aur hum cricket khelne chale jaate hain [At the border, our brothers are standing, protecting us and our country. Look at their courage, the big hearts with which they serve. Think about what their families go through when they don't return home. And here we are, playing cricket]," he remarked.
Harbhajan Singh also highlighted the need to boycott whatever Pakistan says or does on national media.
"As I said, cricketers shouldn't be shaking hands with the Pakistan players, but the media shouldn't be showing them and their reactions on television, either. They are sitting in their country and can say whatever they want, but we shouldn't be highlighting them," Harbhajan said.
India and Pakistan can face each other three times in the upcoming Asia Cup, slated to get underway on September 9. After the group stage fixture on September 14, they can meet once again on September 22 if qualify together for the Super Four stage while their showdown in the final on September 28 is also a possibility.