
Vindu Dara Singh on tensions between India and Pakistan: "Neighbouring state needs to realise..."
Vindu Dara Singh
called out the neighbouring nation's role in fostering
terrorism
.
Actor reacts to Asia Cup fixture
"... We all know whatever has been going on but sports is a different field...
Pakistan needs to realise that they are losing out by doing wrong to India... We want peace but they need to initiate this time.
They are the ones who cause the problem. India has never attacked any country first. Shame on those people in Pakistan who support terrorism," Vindu Dara Singh expressed his views, weighing in on the ongoing debate over the recently announced India vs Pakistan Asia Cup fixture under the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
The Asia Cup 2025 is scheduled to take place in the UAE, with the tournament featuring top Asian teams, including India and Pakistan.
The decision to hold the tournament in a neutral country was made due to the deteriorating relations between the two nations.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


NDTV
17 minutes ago
- NDTV
Ex-India Skipper Issues Stern Warning For Pakistan Clash In Asia Cup: "Everyone Is Aware..."
As the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup approaches, former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin has expressed serious reservations about the timing and context of the match, given the situation between the two countries. India and Pakistan are placed in Group A of the T20 tournament scheduled to be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. The high-octane group-stage encounter is slated for September 14 at the Dubai International Stadium. "Looking at the current situation in the country, we shouldn't be playing this match. Everyone is aware of the issues we are facing," Azharuddin told IANS, referring to the recent spike in cross-border tensions, including the Pahalgam terror attack and India's subsequent Operation Sindoor. Azharuddin stressed that if sporting ties were to continue, they should not be selective. 'And if we have to play, then we should play every sport — not just by picking and choosing,' he added, alluding to the absence of bilateral series and inconsistent sporting engagements between the two countries since 2012. The veteran cricketer clarified that while he holds strong personal views, the final decision rests with the government and the BCCI. 'In the end, it's the government that will decide whether we should play or not. The decision made by the board, the government, and BCCI will be final.' He further added, 'Until the problem is resolved, we shouldn't move forward,' reiterating his belief that India should not engage in cricketing ties with Pakistan until the political and security tensions ease. 'No matter how much we say, ultimately, only what the government and BCCI want will happen. Whatever I am saying today, I'm saying it after careful thought and understanding,' Azharuddin concluded. Despite no bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan since 2012–13, the two teams continue to meet in ICC and ACC tournaments at neutral venues. Owing to the political sensitivities, the entire Asia Cup will be played in the UAE, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi serving as host cities. The BCCI remains the official host of the 19-match tournament, with both nations agreeing not to play on each other's soil until at least 2027. India will begin their campaign against the UAE on September 10, with a potential second face-off against Pakistan in the Super Four stage on September 21, depending on group outcomes. Group A features India, Pakistan, UAE, and Oman, while Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong. Teams will be allowed to field 17-member squads for the event.


Hindustan Times
an hour ago
- Hindustan Times
BCCI's call on India vs Pakistan awaited amid outrage; Asia Cup snub may hurt Suryakumar Yadav's team: Report
The cricketing rivalry between India and Pakistan is set to resume later this year in September after the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) confirmed the schedule for the 2025 Asia Cup last week. The two teams will face each other on September 14 in the Group A encounter, and if they progress to the final, the tournament could likely witness two more encounters. However, the announcement triggered an avalanche of criticism on social media as the Indian sports ministry threw the ball into the BCCI's court to take the final call. India could likely face Pakistan thrice in Asia Cup 2025 The public outrage stemmed from the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, where 26 civilians lost their lives. The incident was followed by a military showdown between the nations, during which India conducted Operation Sindoor. In the wake of the Pahalgam attack, the BCCI had stalled the confirmation of their participation in the Asia Cup, leaving the tournament on the verge of being cancelled as the Indian cricket board awaited the government's approval. The anticipation ended last week when the ACC head and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Mohsin Naqvi, announced the schedule for the Asia Cup. "As of now, the BCCI does not come under the purview of the sports ministry as the National Sports Governance Bill is still to be passed. So, the ministry doesn't have a say, but we will wait and see how the BCCI responds to public sentiment," a sports ministry source told PTI. What happens if India refuse to play against Pakistan in Asia Cup? According to a report in NDTV, India do have the right to forfeit the game against Pakistan, but it will be a loss for the Suryakumar Yadav-led side as the organisers, based on the rules, will consider it as a walkover and hence hand Pakistan the designated points. "This is not a bilateral contest but a match in a multi-nation tournament. If India does not play or forfeit the match, it will give Pakistan a huge advantage. This will be like giving them a walkover, which is not desirable," sources told the channel, confirming that the match is unlikely to be cancelled. Earlier this month, the Yuvraj Singh-led India Champions side refused to play against Pakistan in the second season of the World Championship of Legends in Birmingham for the same reason, following a backlash from fans. The decision forced WCL organisers to call off the game, and they later apologised to the Indian players for "unintentionally causing discomfort."


NDTV
3 hours ago
- NDTV
India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Match Can't Be Cancelled Despite Backlash: Sources
With the announcement of the India vs Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup, an avalanche of criticism has started on social media. However, top sources have confirmed to NDTV that the clash, which is supposed to happen on September 14, will not be cancelled. "This is not a bilateral contest but a match in a multi-nation tournament. If India does not play or forfeit the match, it will give Pakistan a huge advantage. This will be like giving them a walkover, which is not desirable," sources said. Emotions are still running high after 26 people were gunned down by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir's popular tourist hub of Pahalgam in April. The gruesome killings even led to a brief military showdown between the old foes. Months later, the cricket teams of the two nations will clash in the Asia Cup. "As of now, the BCCI does not come under the purview of the sports ministry as the National Sports Governance Bill is still to be passed. So, the ministry doesn't have a say, but we will wait and see how the BCCI responds to public sentiment," a sports ministry source told PTI. Lieutenant General (Retd) KJS Dhillon, who served as the Director General of Defence Intelligence Agency, is among the prominent voices who have called for a boycott of any cricketing ties with Pakistan. However, former BCCI President and captain Sourav Ganguly, while condemning terrorism, has stated that "sport should go on". The sports ministry has maintained that any bilateral sporting engagement with Pakistan is "out of question" at this point. But in multilateral contests, it would go by the Olympic Charter, which prohibits any discrimination based on political issues, which is why the government has stated that it would not stop Pakistan from coming to India for international events. Adherence to the Charter is crucial to India's ambitious bid to host the 2036 Olympics. Cricket too is part of the Olympic movement now and is set for a Games debut in 2028 in the T20 format. However, the eight-nation Asia Cup is not an ICC event and will be conducted by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which is currently led by Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi. The tournament features a scheduled India-Pakistan clash on September 14 with the potential of two more clashes later in the tournament. Crores are riding on these games as broadcasters expect high viewership and in turn high advertising rates. Sony Network has secured the eight-year broadcast rights from the ACC for USD 170 million. It is reliably learnt, that unless there is mandatory India-Pakistan engagement in the continental showpiece, the channel would end up incurring heavy losses which also ends up affecting ACC's revenue projections. The losses, while not hurting the cash-rich BCCI significantly, would have a cascading effect on the revenue of the remaining 24 ACC members, most of whom are developing cricket nations. What the bill says The National Sports Governance Bill has a provision for the sports ministry to step in and "impose reasonable restrictions" on the international participation of Indian teams and individual athletes when necessitated by "extraordinary circumstances" and in the "national interest." The bill was tabled in the Parliament last week but it is still some time before it becomes an act as it would need the approval of both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha before the Presidential assent. The ministry has stated that the BCCI will come under its purview once it becomes an act. "The scenario changes when that happens. But as of now, it is status quo. It is the BCCI's call," the source said. India and Pakistan have not engaged in the hugely money-spinning bilateral clashes since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed more than 150 people. But they have almost always faced off in multi-national events such as the World Cup and the Champions Trophy, generating high viewership both on ground as well on TV and online platforms.