India and Pakistan are due to square off on September 14 in Dubai.
Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar believes Indian players should not be criticised for their participation at the Asia Cup 2025, highlighting that they are only following the directives of the BCCI which are given final approval by the Indian government.
Many fans and experts in India have questioned the decision to play against Pakistan in the continental showpiece despite the heightened tensions between two tensions since the Pahalgam terror attack and retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
In the Asia Cup 2025, the arch rivals might face each other three times, provided both teams make it to the Super 4s and final.
Several MPS have also raised the topic of India playing against Pakistan in the Parliament. However, the BCCI has stayed mum so far, and there has been no clarity regarding why the board is going ahead with playing against Pakistan.
In an interaction with India Today, Gavaskar stressed that Indian players have no say in these decisions and simply follow instructions from the BCCI and the Indian government.
“If the government has taken a call, I don’t see how the players can be criticised or commented upon, because the players at the end of the day are contracted to the BCCI and they will be taking the instructions from the government of India. And so it entirely depends on that,” Gavaskar said.
“The players are helpless in this. They’ve been selected to play in the Asia Cup, and if the government says you have to play, then they will go out and play. If the government says you don’t, then the BCCI will act accordingly,” he added.
However, Gavaskar did not rule out the possibility of India pulling out of their clash against Pakistan or even the marquee tournament.
“Like I said, it is entirely up to the government of India to tell the BCCI what to do,” he remarked.
India’s 15-member squad for the Asia Cup 2025 was announced on August 19, while the Men in Blue will open their campaign against UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.