New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has stepped up her campaign to cancel the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match, scheduled for September 14 in Dubai, following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year.
Chaturvedi, who has been vocal about the issue in Parliament and on social media, said India cannot continue sporting ties with Pakistan while “innocent lives are lost to cross-border terrorism.
“Not Just Blood Money, But Cursed Money”
In a self-recorded video message from the United States, Chaturvedi recalled that she had written to BCCI Chairman Roger Binny demanding the cancellation of the fixture.
“India-Pakistan cricket match has been scheduled for 14 September in Dubai, as part of the Asia Cup. I had raised this issue in Parliament because when I, as part of the Parliamentary delegation in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor, visited various countries, we were told there would be no talks and trade with terror. Twenty-six young lives were lost in Pahalgam, and 26 women were widowed. This is why Operation Sindoor took place, and we gave a befitting reply to Pakistan. We had also resolved to stop all dialogue and trade with Pakistan till they work towards eradicating terror. Now this cricket match has been announced. Despite repeated requests by me and a number of citizens of the country, it is happening,” she said.
The Rajya Sabha MP also criticised the financial stakes involved, calling revenues from the clash “not just blood money, but cursed money.”
Chaturvedi’s September 12 Post On Broadcasters
On September 12, just two days before the scheduled game, Chaturvedi took to X,
Has anyone compiled the list of all the app streamers/ cricket commentators/ broadcasters who have chosen to not stream the Ind vs Pak Asia Match? Would like to personally thank them for their bold step of standing up for India when our own government and the BCCI has failed the…
— Priyanka Chaturvedi
(@priyankac19) September 12, 2025
to thank broadcasters and platforms who had opted out of streaming the clash.
Background: Pahalgam Terror Attack And Operation Sindoor
On April 22, 2025, militants opened fire on tourists in the Baisaran Valley near Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, killing 26 civilians and injuring dozens more.
The massacre, the worst civilian attack in Kashmir since 2008, has fueled widespread anger and calls to suspend all forms of engagement with Pakistan.
Attackers specifically picked non-Muslim tourists, eyewitnesses said.
The Resistance Front (TRF) initially overclaimed ownership, but later withdrew, and the Indian authorities have blamed the attack on Pakistan-based groups. India responded with Operation Sindoor, attacking militant hideouts and cells.
The massacre that was the worst civilian killings in Kashmir since the year 2008 has been a source of anger and the suspension of all engagements with Pakistan.
Wider Boycott Trend Supported by Other Groups
It is not only Chaturvedi. Various public personalities, political parties, sports personalities, media and even citizens have participated or voiced out their support for the boycott of the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match.
Some of the key developments:
- Former cricketer & politician Manoj Tiwary has said he will personally boycott watching the match. He expressed that, given the context of violence and loss in Pahalgam, one cannot “enjoy the game.” source: Outlook India.
- Harbhajan Singh, ex-India spinner, has been vocal. He used the phrase “Khoon aur paani ek saath nahi beh sakte” (blood and water cannot flow together) to argue that playing Pakistan while tensions remain high is unacceptable. Source: Business Standard+1
- Political parties such as the Samajwadi Party (SP) have also called for a complete boycott. Abu Asim Azmi of SP Maharashtra called holding the match “suspicious” in light of ongoing cross-border tensions, adding that “people will not tolerate” what they view as ignoring the grief and promises made after Pahalgam. The Times of India.
- EaseMyTrip, a corporate sponsor, withdrew support months ago. In July, its founder stated that “some things are bigger than sport.” This shows corporate stakeholder involvement in the boycott narrative. India Today
- Public sentiment appears strong: major social media trends (#BoycottIndiaVsPakistan, etc.) have been observed. Media reports note viewers, internet personalities, and even military veterans explicitly saying they will not watch. India Today+1.
These combined voices amplify the pressure on both the BCCI and the Government to reconsider the match.
Victims’ Families And Political Support
Families of the victims and opposition leaders have echoed Chaturvedi’s stance.
“The entire country is opposing it. My son is no more. Still the government wants to play Pakistan? This cannot be accepted,” said Sanjay Dwivedi, father of victim Shubham Dwivedi.
Leaders from Congress and AAP have also criticised the government and the BCCI for moving ahead with the game, accusing them of putting commercial interests above national sentiment.
Public protests have been reported in parts of Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Delhi, where citizens staged demonstrations against the match.
BCCI And Government Yet To Take A Stand
The BCCI has not commented on Chaturvedi’s repeated appeals. Officials privately stress that the Asia Cup is an ICC and ACC-sanctioned multi-nation tournament, unlike a bilateral series, meaning India’s withdrawal could lead to sanctions, forfeiture of points, and financial penalties.
Government sources, while reaffirming that “terror and talks cannot go together,” have so far avoided a direct intervention, leaving the decision in the hands of cricket authorities.
India-Pakistan Rivalry: More Than Just A Game
The India vs Pakistan cricket rivalry is said to be one of the most popular sporting events in the world. Matches are watched by hundreds of millions of people, routinely making them very successful for the sponsors and the television casts.
However, in the terror attack at Pahalgam, critics as Chaturvedi believe the decision to play Pakistan is sabotaging the Indian stand against terrorism.
Such demands have been raised before. Following the Pulwama attack in 2019, several politicians and other prominent individuals had also called upon India to boycott Pakistan in the World Cup.
What Happens If India Pulls Out?
If India chooses to boycott the September 14 confrontation, potential possibilities are:
- Cancellation of the match would send a strong political message and would lead to financial losses and potential penalties.
- Postpone or reschedule, but such an action would be logistically complicated.
- The match goes ahead, with symbolic protests or disclaimers, though that risks triggering backlash at home.
Writer’s Take
As the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match nears by only hours, Priyanka Chaturvedi has now increased her call to boycott the game.
Her September 12 social media post thanking broadcasters who opted out has added a fresh dimension to the debate, reflecting how the controversy now stretches from Parliament to the digital public square.
Chaturvedi’s call to boycott the India–Pakistan match is not just politics—it feels personal, almost raw. Cricket, for most of us, is joy. It’s that rush when the ball clears the ropes, the thrill of a tense chase. But how do you celebrate when just months ago, families in Pahalgam were left broken, children orphaned, and 26 young lives cut short?
Her words force us to pause. Maybe sport can’t be divorced from the grief outside the stadium. Maybe cheering against Pakistan isn’t enough when the blood of innocents is still fresh in memory. The game is huge, yes, but the question she poses is bigger: what matters more, runs on the board, or respect for the fallen?
FAQs
Q1. Why is Priyanka Chaturvedi asking for a boycott of the India vs Pakistan match?
She feels playing Pakistan right after the Pahalgam terror attack would be unfair to the families who lost their loved ones. Twenty-six people were killed, and in her view, cricket can’t just carry on like nothing happened.
Q2. When is the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash supposed to take place?
It will take place on September 14 in Dubai. This is normally a game that is hyped as being among the biggest games in the history of the sport of cricket, but this year, it is not more about sport; it is more about politics and emotions.
Q3. Who else has joined in on the boycott calls?
It’s not just her. Harbhajan Singh, a few other politicians, the travel company EaseMyTrip, and even families of the Pahalgam victims have spoken out. Their common point is that cricket with Pakistan doesn’t sit right when terror attacks keep happening.
Q4. What happens if India pulls out of the match?
Technically, the team could lose points, face fines, and get into trouble with the cricket boards. But supporters of the boycott say those things matter less than sending a message that India won’t look the other way on terror.
The post Priyanka Chaturvedi Renews Call To Cancel India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Clash After Pahalgam Terror Attack appeared first on JeetWin Blog.
