India and Pakistan’s Cricket teams are set to lock horns again today in an intensely charged Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match at Dubai International Stadium. India, under the leadership of captain Suryakumar Yadav, and Pakistan, under the leadership of Salman Agha, will face each other in a highly anticipated match for cricket fans throughout Asia given the historic rivalry and the relevance to tournament advancement.
Boycott Calls Cast a Shadow
The previous match between the two last Sunday i.e. 14th September was marred by collective calls for boycott in India. Political parties, activists, and relatives of the Pahalgam terror attack victims called on the fans to boycott the match as a way of protesting Pakistan’s claimed involvement in terrorism. Such appeals had a great impact on public sentiment and resulted in protests calling for people not to watch or go to the match, affecting general enthusiasm.
This boycott campaign was clearly evident in the lower stadium attendance and TV viewership for this India-Pakistan match, which traditionally is a record-breaker. Analysts said that the political mood, recent poor performance by Pakistan, and overall drop in competitive unpredictability all served to make fans less enthusiastic than usual.
On-Field Performance and Rivalry
Boycott calls for India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 cricket matches, particularly today’s Super 4 match, have increased hugely in the wake of ongoing tension after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. Most in India perceive playing Pakistan as insensitive in the face of continuous geopolitical rivalry, triggering widespread indignation and unsold tickets for the match at the Dubai stadium.
Boycott Calls Rise AgainĀ
Veteran actor Satish Shah called for a strong boycott, stating he had “lost respect for our team” and appealed to all patriots to turn off their television sets during the match. Highly decorated military veterans also joined in, with Major Manik Jolly demanding an empty stadium and Major Pawan Kumar demanding media blackout without any live reports. Former India player Kedar Jadhav also propagated boycotting matches against Pakistan, associating the pleas with national security issues. Political leaders like AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi wondered how cricket could go on during suspended travel and trade with Pakistan.
Though, cricketing icons such as Kapil Dev and Sourav Ganguly appealed to fans and players to keep sport and politics apart, asking the game to be allowed to proceed while stressing professionalism in light of the charged environment. The Supreme Court rejected a plea to scrap the match, terming it “just a game.
Today’s Super 4 match is therefore charged with tension far beyond cricket, allaying divided public opinion during national pride, loss, and demands for sporting boycott in protest against the Pakistan terror support
