Former India captain Sourav Ganguly has voiced support for India's group-stage clash with Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup, stating that while terrorism must end, sporting ties should not be disrupted.
India and Pakistan have been placed in Group A for the T20 tournament, set to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. The high-profile fixture between the arch-rivals is scheduled for September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Speaking to PTI, Ganguly said, “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.”
The tournament comes amid lingering cross-border tensions and recent conflict flashpoints, including the Pahalgam attack, after which India launched Operation Sindoor. Although India and Pakistan have not played bilateral cricket since 2012–13, they continue to face each other at neutral venues in ICC and ACC events.
Due to the political situation, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has confirmed that all matches will be held in the UAE, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi as host cities. The BCCI remains the official host of the 19-match tournament, with both India and Pakistan agreeing to only compete at neutral venues until at least 2027.
India begins their campaign on September 10 against UAE and could face Pakistan again in the Super Four stage on September 21 if both teams advance.
Group A includes India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B features Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. Teams will be allowed to field 17-member squads for the competition.
