Harbhajan Singh slams BCCI over India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash: Nation above cricket

India Today

20 hours ago

Former Indian cricketer Harbhajan Singh has strongly opposed India playing Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, saying there is no place for cricket between the two nations. Tensions continue to prevail between the neighbours in the aftermath of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, earlier this year in April.The former spinner himself was part of the World Championship of Legends, an exhibition tournament which had both India and the Pakistan team. However, the Indian team decided to boycott both its games in the tournament, citing the ongoing tensions between the two countries.advertisementHarbhajan's comments come on the backdrop of the Asia Cup fixture between the two teams, where they can potentially play each other upto three times. The arch-rivals are set to meet in Dubai on 14 September in a group-stage clash. Singh feels it is wrong to share the field with Pakistan when soldiers are risking their lives to protect the country, insisting that national interest must come before any sporting contest.
'They need to understand what is important and what is not. This is as simple as that. For me, the soldier who stands on the border, whose family often doesn't get to see him, who sometimes sacrifices his life and never returns home, their sacrifice is so immense for all of us. Compared to that, this is a very small thing, that we can't skip playing one cricket match. It's a very small matter,' Harbhajan told the Times of India.The former spinner even referred to the government's position on the issue, stating that the Indian government has been very clear on cutting ties with Pakistan till cross-border terrorism exists.Harbhajan, one of India's best ever spinners, stressed that no individual should be placed above the country. In the recent World Championship of Legends (WCL) tournament, the India Champions skipped their group match against Pakistan after several players, including Shikhar Dhawan and Harbhajan Singh, pulled out of the game.'Our government has the same stance, blood and sweat cannot co-exist. It cannot be the case that there's fighting on the border, tensions between the two nations, and we go to play cricket. Until these big issues are resolved, cricket is a very small matter. The nation always comes first,' he added.India were due to meet Pakistan again in the semi-final on 31 July at Edgbaston, but the day before, the team's sponsor, EaseMyTrip, withdrew, saying, 'terror and cricket cannot go hand in hand.''Whatever our identity is, it's because of this country. Whether you are a player, an actor, or anyone else, no one is bigger than the nation. The country comes first, and the duties we owe to it must be fulfilled. Not playing a cricket match is nothing compared to the importance of the nation,' he commented.As it was finalised that India and Pakistan will lock horns again in the semi-finals, the Indian players stood firm in their stance and did not play, allowing Pakistan to advance to the final, where they were hammered by South Africa who won by nine wickets.- EndsMust Watch