The arch-rivals are slated to square off in the Asia Cup next month.
Earlier this week, the Sports Ministry said India won’t engage in any bilateral sporting clash with Pakistan, but the cricket team’s participation in multilateral tournaments will not be stopped.
The statement came amidst the ongoing backlash surrounding the scheduled India versus Pakistan fixture in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
The arch-rivals are slated to square off on September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium in a Group A fixture. They might face each other thrice in the continental showpiece, provided both teams make it to the Super 4s and final.
Ever since the schedule was announced last month, the BCCI has faced significant criticism for agreeing to play against Pakistan as the tensions between two nations are at an all-time high following the Pahalgam terror attack and retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
Amid the outrage, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi on Friday (August 22) demanded blocking of live telecast of India-Pakistan match during the Asia Cup next month, citing national interest and public sentiment.
She claimed the Centre's decision to go ahead with cricket matches with Pakistan in multi-nation tournaments is totally unacceptable.
In a letter to Union IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, Chaturvedi highlighted that following the Pahalgam attack on April 22, the Indian armed forces launched Operation Sindoor, a counter-terror action meant to hold Pakistan accountable for its continued sponsorship of terror.
"A parliamentary delegation was sent globally carrying the message of zero tolerance to terrorism of which I was a part too, and this decision of GOI to go ahead with cricket matches against (Pakistan) is totally unacceptable to me and my conscience," she said in the letter.
Chaturvedi further stated that she was disheartened by the insistence of both the BCCI and the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports on pushing India's participation in the Asia Cup, also featuring Pakistan.
"Hiding behind the garb of sportsman spirit to allow the match to happen lacks moral courage to stand against the terror nation," the Rajya Sabha MP asserted.
"Keeping the view of national interest and public sentiment, it is necessary the MeitY (Ministry of Electronics and IT) blocks the live streaming of the India-Pakistan match across all OTT platforms, websites, and apps. Since you also hold the charge of Information & Broadcasting Ministry, I urge you to block broadcasters from telecasting the match live," she said in the letter to Vaishnaw.
World history is riddled with examples where nations chose principles over sports -- South Africa's boycott during Apartheid, Olympic boycotts across decades, and, most recently, Pakistan's own hockey team refusing to play in India for the Asia Hockey Cup despite all clearances -- exposes the hypocrisy of the Sports Ministry's decision, Chaturvedi pointed out.
She also reminded the government of Asia Cup boycott by Pakistan in 1990-91 due to heightened cross-border tensions.
"However, the stubbornness to go ahead with promoting this match by BCCI to make money will in truth be not just blood money, but cursed money, as it carried the curse of the coffins of Pahalgam terror attack victims and our men in uniform," she said.
(With PTI Inputs)