Indian cricket legend Sunil Gavaskar has sparked controversy with his recent comments questioning Pakistan’s participation in the Asia Cup 2025, leading to backlash from cricketing icons, including Javed Miandad.
In an interview with an Indian news outlet, Gavaskar hinted that political tensions between India and Pakistan could overshadow the upcoming Asia Cup 2025.
He pointed to the BCCI’s historic alignment with the Indian government’s stance, suggesting that if the current political climate doesn’t shift, Pakistan might not feature in the tournament.
“BCCI’s stance has always followed the Indian government’s direction. If the situation hasn’t changed, I don’t see Pakistan taking part in the Asia Cup,” said Sunil Gavaskar.
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He went a step further, even speculating on the future of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), suggesting it could be dissolved in favour of tri-series or four-nation tournaments depending on how “regional dynamics” evolve.
“It’s possible that the Asian Cricket Council could be dissolved. Instead, we might see a tri-series or a four-nation event. What happens next will depend on how things unfold in the coming months,” Gavaskar added.
The remarks didn’t sit well with Pakistan’s cricket fraternity. Javed Miandad, who shares a long-standing camaraderie with Gavaskar and has often praised him for his dignified demeanour, seemed taken aback.
“I can’t believe Sunny bhai said that,” Miandad responded. “He’s always been a respectful, down-to-earth person who stayed away from political talk.”
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Former left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim echoed the sentiment, initially suspecting that Gavaskar had been misquoted.
“He’s a responsible figure, respected on both sides of the border. Politics should never mix with sports,” Qasim said, calling for cricket to remain a unifying force rather than a divisive tool.
But the strongest reaction came from Basit Ali, who didn’t mince his words. “Stupid comments,” he said bluntly. “Let’s not jump to conclusions. Cricket should stay above political hostilities.”
The Asia Cup 2025 will feature eight teams, the five full members of the ACC (Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan) alongside Hong Kong, Oman, and the UAE, who qualified through the 2024 ACC Men’s Premier Cup.
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