Aishanya Dwivedi, the widow of a man killed in the recent Pahalgam terror attack, has strongly condemned the upcoming India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match. She accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of disregarding the sacrifices of the 26 people who lost their lives in the attack and called for a nationwide boycott of the match.
“BCCI should not have accepted a match between India and Pakistan. I feel they are not being sensitive towards the families of the 26 victims,” Dwivedi told ANI. “What are our cricketers doing? Cricket is considered our national game, and players are expected to stand for the country. Except for one or two, none have voiced support for boycotting the match. The BCCI cannot make them play at gunpoint; they should take a stand, but they are not.”
Dwivedi also questioned the role of sponsors and broadcasters. “I would like to ask if their concern for the 26 families has ended. What will the revenue from this match be used for? Pakistan will use it to fuel terrorism. That is a terrorist nation, and by allowing this match, we are giving them resources to harm us again. I cannot understand this,” she said.
She urged fans to take a stand by boycotting the match: “Don’t switch on your TVs. Don’t give them the numbers. Boycott this match.”
Political Reactions
Opposition parties, including AIMIM and Shiv Sena (UBT), have criticized the BJP and the BCCI for permitting the fixture. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray questioned, “Can blood and cricket flow together?”
The Maharashtra Congress described the match as an insult to the families of the Pahalgam victims and to soldiers martyred in the line of duty. The Sharad Pawar-led NCP said the government’s double standards were exposed by allowing the match to proceed.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to urgently hear a plea seeking an interim stay on the India-Pakistan match scheduled in Dubai on September 14, 2025.
