India emerged victorious in the 2025 Asia Cup, winning all three matches against arch-rivals Pakistan to lift the title. However, the tournament was marred by controversy and rising tensions, both on and off the field. The most talked-about incident was India’s decision not to shake hands with the Pakistani team after any of the matches — a gesture that traditionally symbolizes sportsmanship.
This lack of post-match courtesy didn’t go unnoticed and triggered a chain of events that further strained the already tense cricketing relationship between the two nations.
Michael Atherton Suggests India-Pakistan Matches Be Scrapped
In the wake of the controversy, former England captain Michael Atherton publicly stated that it might be time to reconsider holding India-Pakistan matches altogether. According to him, if these contests continue to escalate hostilities instead of fostering healthy competition, scrapping them could help avoid future incidents.
But the suggestion hasn’t sat well with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). A senior BCCI official, speaking to Dainik Jagran (as reported by Times Now), pushed back on the idea, citing the enormous commercial impact such a move would have.
“It’s easy to talk about all this, but will sponsors and broadcasters agree to it? In today’s situation, if any major team, not just India, withdraws from a tournament, it will be difficult to attract sponsors,” the official said.
Security Tensions and Political Fallout Impact Future Matches
The souring cricketing ties come against a backdrop of escalating geopolitical tensions. Following the terror attack in Pahalgam and India’s subsequent Operation Sindoor, both nations have now agreed not to host each other for any cricketing event going forward.
This decision led to the 2025 Asia Cup being shifted out of India and hosted in the UAE instead. Additionally, Colombo was added as a venue for the Women’s World Cup to ensure neutral ground and enhanced security measures.
The fallout from this tournament has raised serious concerns about the future of one of cricket’s most iconic rivalries. While the matches between India and Pakistan continue to generate unmatched viewership and sponsor interest, the growing animosity has left cricketing authorities and fans wondering: at what cost?
