Boycott call for India-Pak match unites nation

Ahead of India's Asia Cup clash with Pakistan tomorrow at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, calls for a boycott have peaked. Meaning, Operation Sindoor may have ended months ago, but its ripple effects are being felt on the cricket pitch.

For many, cheering for India against Pakistan now feels like overlooking the Pahalgam massacre, in which 26 lives were lost, and the four-day war that followed. The world's biggest cricket rivalry, usually celebrated for record-breaking viewership and drama, has this time united India against it. Even the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is all set to 'invisibly' boycott this Asia Cup match.

The announcement of the fixture in July, barely weeks after Operation Sindoor, drew outrage from all quarters. With the match just a day away, hashtags like #BoycottIndvsPak have once again blown up on social media. From actors to veterans to journalists, and even former team India cricketers have echoed the sentiment.

"I sincerely urge every patriot and true Indian to strictly boycott the India-Pakistan match. Just switch off the TV," actor Satish Shah posted. Major Manik M Jolly (retd), a decorated soldier, said the match deserved an "empty stadium". Military voices, in particular, have taken the lead in amplifying the sentiment. Shaurya Chakra awardee Major Pawan Kumar (retd) requested media outlets to refrain from covering the high-profile encounter. "No breaking news, no score updates, no tickers—we know you can't boycott it, but you can definitely avoid it silently. Hope you all respect the sentiments of 140 crore Indians," he wrote on X.

Pollster and journalist Yashwant Deshmukh expressed frustration, saying he would not only skip India-Pakistan matches but also unfollow cricket enthusiasts on his timeline. Political commentator Tehseen Poonawalla said: "All of India, all 1.4 billion Indians want India to have no relations with Pakistan and must not play cricket with them at all.

Several have also criticised the government, pointing out that despite mounting outrage from the public and the Opposition, not a single Union minister has spoken on the issue of the India-Pakistan match. Even political leaders had voiced opposition when the match was first confirmed. In Parliament, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said in July, when the match was announced: "My conscience does not allow me to watch this match.

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the central government over the upcoming India-Pakistan Asia Cup match, accusing it of compromising national interest for commercial gain. Echoing Thackeray's sentiment, Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief Arvind Kejriwal also attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and wondered about the latter's desperation for the Indian-Pakistan cricket match at a time when the relationship with Islamabad is strained. 

Even sponsors backed out. Travel company EaseMyTrip withdrew as a sponsor back in July. Its founder, Nishant Pitti, wrote on X, "We stand with India. We cannot support any event that attempts to normalise relations with a country that promotes terrorism. Some things are bigger than sport."

BCCI ‘silent’ boycott

According to media reports, most BCCI officials will not be attending the match in Dubai despite India being the official host. The report further claimed that no BCCI official has reached Dubai till now, and only one official is expected to be present at the stadium on match day.

The decision was reportedly taken following the 'boycott campaign' in India. BCCI officials are reportedly fearing backlash. The report said that Rajiv Shukla may attend the match as a member of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), but it is highly unlikely that either International Cricket Council (ICC) Chairman Jay Shah or BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia will be present.

But not everyone is convinced that boycotting cricket is the right answer. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly had said back in July: "Terrorism must not happen, but sports must go on." Yet, given the sheer volume of outrage, Ganguly's stance appears to be in the minority. In August, former cricketer Kedar Jadhav had urged the Indian team itself to withdraw from its Asia Cup fixtures against Pakistan in the UAE.