Former India cricket captain Mohammad Azharuddin has expressed concern about the upcoming India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup T20 tournament, which is scheduled at Dubai International Stadium on 14 September, recently cited the current border-limit tension between the two countries including Pahgam Terror Attack and India’s Operation Sindoor.The Asia Cup will be held in the United Arab Emirates from 9 to 28 September, with India and Pakistan in Group A along with UAE and Oman.“Given the current state of the country, we should not play this match. Everyone is aware of the issues that we are facing,” Azharuddin told IANS.“And if we want to play, we should play every game – not just by choosing and choosing,” he said, referring to the lack of bilateral chain between the two countries since 2012.Azharuddin emphasized that while these were his personal views, the final decision would rest with high officials. “Finally, this is the government that will decide whether we should play or not. The decision made by the board, government and BCCI will be final.”“We should not move forward until the problem is resolved,” he said, suggesting that cricket relations should be suspended unless political stress is easy.“No matter how much we say, after all, only the government and BCCI want.
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The tournament will have 19 matches in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in which the BCCI will serve as an official host.The two nations have agreed not to play on each other’s soil by at least 2027, selecting the United Arab Emirates as a neutral site.India’s campaign begins against the UAE on 10 September, with a possible second encounter against Pakistan in the Super Four Stage on 21 September.Group B includes Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Hong Kong.Teams will be allowed to field 17-member squads for the tournament.Despite the absence of bilateral cricket from 2012-13, India and Pakistan continue to face each other in the ICC and ACC tournaments at neutral places.
