AIMIM

New Delhi: India’s Asia Cup 2025 match against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday has triggered a major political row, with opposition leaders questioning the government’s decision to go ahead with the game despite the recent terror attack in Pahalgam. "My question to the Chief Minister of Assam, the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh, and all of them is that do you not have the power to refuse to play a cricket match against Pakistan, which asked for the religion of our 26 citizens in Pahalgam and shot them?" The AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi underlined that his party had stood with the Pahalgam victims from the beginning. "We stood with those 26 citizens yesterday as well, we stand with them today, and we will stand with them tomorrow as well," he added. https://twitter.com/asadowaisi/status/1967098445304656048 Aam Aadmi Party also joined the protest. Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that widows of the Pahalgam victims were being “humiliated,” pointing to a controversial social media post allegedly shared by Pakistani cricketers mocking India’s Operation Sindoor. He warned that AAP workers would expose clubs and restaurants screening the match. AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal went further, questioning why the Prime Minister was “organising a match with Pakistan” and suggesting foreign pressure was behind the decision. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray also hit out at the government, calling the match an “insult to national sentiments.” Also Read | AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi announces Protest Against Waqf Bill Announcing ‘Sindoor protests’ in Maharashtra, he urged patriots to boycott the game. Quoting his father Bal Thackeray’s long-standing position, he said: “If blood and water cannot flow together, then how can cricket and blood go together?” Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, however, struck a more balanced tone. He acknowledged public anger but said opinions were divided, adding that the decision to play had already been taken at the “appropriate forum.” Under India’s sports policy, bilateral cricket with Pakistan is suspended, but matches continue in multilateral events such as the Asia Cup and ICC tournaments.