New Delhi
\nSeveral former Pakistani cricketers, including legendary batter Javed Miandad, have strongly criticised recent remarks by Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar concerning Pakistan\u2019s participation in the 2025 Asia Cup and the potential fate of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
\nGavaskar, speaking to an Indian news channel, suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) would likely follow the Indian government\u2019s directives, hinting that ongoing political tensions could prevent Pakistan from taking part in the tournament.
\n\u201cBCCI\u2019s stance has always followed the Indian government\u2019s direction. If the situation hasn\u2019t changed, I don\u2019t see Pakistan taking part in the Asia Cup,\u201d Gavaskar said.
\nHe further speculated that the ACC might be dissolved altogether, possibly replaced with a tri-series or four-nation event depending on the political and cricketing landscape in the coming months.
\nHis comments drew swift and pointed reactions from former Pakistani players. \u201cI can\u2019t believe Sunny bhai said that,\u201d responded Javed Miandad. \u201cHe\u2019s a respectful, down-to-earth person who always stayed away from politics.\u201d
\nFormer spinner Iqbal Qasim echoed that sentiment, initially suggesting Gavaskar might have been misquoted. \u201cGavaskar is a responsible figure loved on both sides of the border. Politics should not mix with sports,\u201d he stated.
\nBasit Ali, however, was less forgiving. He dismissed Gavaskar\u2019s remarks as \u201cstupid\u201d and called for facts over speculation.
\n\u201cLet the investigation conclude. Cricket should remain above political hostilities,\u201d he asserted.
\nThe 17th edition of the Asia Cup is scheduled for September 2025 and will feature eight teams.
\nIndia and Sri Lanka are hosts of the Asia Cup 2025 but the BCCI will declare their stance in due time.
\nFull ACC members \u2014 Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka \u2014 have already qualified, while Hong Kong, Oman, and the United Arab Emirates secured their places through the 2024 ACC Men\u2019s Premier Cup.
\nAs tensions brew off the field, former players are calling for the spirit of the game to rise above political divides.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
New Delhi Several former Pakistani cricketers, including legendary batter Javed Miandad, have strongly criticised recent remarks by Indian cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar concerning Pakistan\u2019s participation in the 2025 Asia Cup and the potential fate of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Gavaskar, speaking to an Indian news channel, suggested that the Board of Control for Cricket […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":476683,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-476676","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n