ANI
19 Aug 2025, 22:37 GMT+10
New Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): Ahead of the Asia Cup, former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna gave his take on whether the India-Pakistan clash must be played or not, saying that while matches should take place especially during multi-national/ICC tournaments where there is a trophy at stake, the blooodshed on the border should also stop, remarking 'enough is enough'.
India will kick off their campaign against the UAE on September 10, while the high-voltage game against Pakistan is scheduled for September 14, with both fixtures set to be played in Dubai. India will play their final group stage fixture against Oman on September 19 in Abu Dhabi.
The question of whether the popular cricketing fixture should take place has been a massive point of debate leading up to the tournament, especially after Indian legends did not play their matches against Pakistan in the World Championships of Legends (WCL) recently due to tensions between both nations. While there have been voices backing the match to go ahead, as it's a multi-national tournament with a title at stake, there has been a massive section just as vocal in calling for a boycott of the match.
The reason is Operation Sindoor, which was launched in May by the Indian Armed Forces against Pakistan-backed terror groups following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22. The Indian Armed Forces carried out targeted strikes against terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the deaths of over 100 terrorists linked to groups such as Jaish-e-Mohammed, Lashkar-e-Taiba, and Hizbul Mujahideen.
Speaking to ANI about the India-Pakistan match, Surinder said, 'As far as playing the match is concerned, this is for the government to decide. I am too small of a person to speak on that. As a player, yes, sports should be there. But at the same time, I feel that the bloodshed on the border should also stop. Enough is enough,' he said.
Surinder said that while it is understandable to play Pakistan during a multi-nation tournament/ICC event as there is a trophy at stake, his feelings are in line with those of the nation.
'My feelings are with the people of the nation. The killing of innocent people at the border on both sides should stop,' he added.
Team India last toured Pakistan for cricketing purposes back in 2008, and the last bilateral series between these two arch-rivals was way back in 2013. Since then, both nations have played at ICC/Asia Cup events.
On Friday, in his Independence Day address, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the success of Operation Sindoor and saluted the role of the armed forces who targeted terror sites in Pakistan. The operation, he said, was an expression of India's outrage at the Pahalgam terrorists' attack in which 'husbands were killed in front of their wives and fathers were killed in front of their children after being asked their religion'.
'I am very proud that from the ramparts of the Red Fort, I am getting the opportunity to salute the heroes of Operation Sindoor. Our brave jawans punished the enemy beyond its imagination,' PM Modi said.
Team India squad for Asia Cup: Surya Kumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Reserve players: Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal. (ANI)
Get a daily dose of Kenya Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Kenya Star.
More InformationNew Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): Following the announcement of India's Asia Cup squad, former Indian cricketer Madan Lal felt surprised...
Negotiations are in, a ceasefire is out, the EU is sidelined and Moscow is upping the ante A sudden and frenetic period of diplomacy...
By Sahil Kohli New Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): Following the announcement of Team India's squad for the upcoming Asia Cup, former...
(250819) -- ADEN, Aug. 19, 2025 (Xinhua) -- A displaced boy fills plastic containers with drinking water at a temporary displacement...
Taipei [Taiwan], August 19 (ANI): The Representative Office of Somaliland in Taiwan has firmly dismissed recent comments made by the...
Officials from Pretoria are scheduled to embark on a five-day visit to Mumbai and Delhi next week South Africa's Trade, Industry,...
New Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): Following the announcement of India's Asia Cup squad, former Indian cricketer Madan Lal felt surprised...
New Delhi [India], August 19 (ANI): Ahead of the Asia Cup, former Indian cricketer Surinder Khanna gave his take on whether the India-Pakistan...
The US president has been spearheading an attempt to end the conflict between Moscow and Kiev US President Donald Trump has renewed...
(250819) -- SWABI, Aug. 19, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Relief personnel search through the rubble of collapsed houses for victims during a rescue...
(Photo credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images) The 2026 PGA Tour schedule, released Tuesday, includes 35 official FedEx Cup stops and nine...
by Hummam Sheikh Ali HAMA, Syria, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- In the flattened village of al-Hawash in Syria's central Hama province, 40-year-old...
