Indian players were criticised by Danish Kaneria for their hypocrisy when they decided to play the Men in Green in the Asia Cup despite boycotting the World Championship of Legends (WCL) 2025 match against Pakistan Champions earlier this month because of political tensions between the two nations.
After receiving negative feedback on social media, former international cricket players Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and others chose to withdraw from the India Champions vs. Pakistan Champions WCL match on July 20. Following Operation Sindoor, this was to be the first time the two sides met on a cricket pitch. Nonetheless, India and Pakistan are paired together in the Asia Cup, and they could face each other three times during the competition. Each group will have two teams who advance to the Super Four stage. Every team will play the other three once in the Super Fours. The final, scheduled for September 28, will feature two teams from the Super Four stage.
Danish Kaneria was upset about this since he believed that there shouldn’t have been any issues with the WCL match if the players were comfortable playing Pakistan in the Asia Cup. According to the circumstances, the former Pakistani leg-spinner advised against using patriotism.
When patriotism suits you, stop using it. Danish Kaneria tweeted, “Let sport be sport, not propaganda.”
Indian athletes considered it a patriotic duty and boycotted the WCL. But now it’s all right between Pakistan and the Asia Cup? If cricket with Pakistan is OK, then the WCL ought to have been as well.
Win the Asia Cup is not necessary for us to succeed: Shreevats Goswami
Shreevats Goswami, a former cricket player from Bengal, believed that India should give up their match against Pakistan so that they may advance in the Asia Cup. According to him, India is simply taking part in the competition to support the economies of other nations.
“In my opinion, India should forfeit their match against Pakistan and allow them to advance to the Asia Cup. It is not necessary for us to win the Asia Cup. India is only taking part because it benefits other countries economically; otherwise, I fail to understand why. This is what should and must ideally occur, and the country will be incensed if India chooses to play against Pakistan! It ought to. Goswami on X.
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