'Sport must go on': Sourav Ganguly's bold stand on India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly paid heed to the sensitive topic of whether India and Pakistan should engage in cricketing action, and gave a bold opinion. read more

Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly has weighed in on the sensitive topic of whether India and Pakistan should engage in cricketing action. Following the Pahalgam terror attack, public sentiment has called for a complete boycott of Pakistan, and the general consensus is against playing cricket matches against the nation. However, Ganguly offers a different perspective, suggesting that sports and politics should be kept separate.

Ganguly on Sunday said he has no issues with India and Pakistan being placed in the same group of the upcoming , asserting that while terrorism must end, sport must continue.

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Ganguly on IND vs PAK clash in Asia Cup

As per the schedule, arch-rivals India and Pakistan are clubbed in Group A and are set to collide at the Dubai International Stadium on September 14.

“I’m okay with the schedule. Sport must continue. What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can’t let that stop the game. Terrorism must end. India has taken a firm stand against it, it’s in the past now. Sport must go on,” Ganguly told PTI.

The T20 tournament will take place in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from September 9 to 28.

Team India will begin its campaign against the UAE on September 10 and may play all their matches in Dubai. As both India and Pakistan are expected to go past the group stage, there is a chance that the two nations will clash again in the tournament, this time in the Super Four stage on September 21.

Group A comprises India, Pakistan, UAE and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) will give teams the provision of combining 17-member squads for the 19-match tournament, with matches scheduled in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

While the BCCI is the official host, the tournament will be held in the UAE as India and Pakistan have agreed to play only at neutral venues till 2027 due to ongoing cross-border tensions.

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