Former India spinner Harbhajan Singh has spoken strongly against the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to allow India to play Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup. His comments come amid growing calls to boycott Pakistan in sports after the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor.
India and Pakistan are set to meet in the group stage in Dubai on September 14, with possible encounters in the Super 4s and the final if both teams progress. Many expected India to withdraw from these matches, making the announcement of the fixtures a surprise.
Soldier sacrifices over cricket, says Harbhajan
Speaking to the Times of India, Harbhajan stressed that the sacrifices of Indian soldiers far outweigh the importance of a cricket match. He stated that playing Pakistan while tensions remain at the border is against the nation’s sentiment.
“Our soldiers sacrifice their lives for us. Not playing one cricket match is nothing in comparison,” he said, referring to the government’s stance that ‘blood and water cannot flow together’.
‘No one is bigger than the nation’
Harbhajan emphasised that players, actors, or anyone else owe their identity to the country and must put the nation first. He noted that India and Pakistan do not play bilateral cricket due to ongoing tensions, and the same principle should apply to multi-nation tournaments like the Asia Cup and World Cup.
“Cricket is secondary when the nation is at stake,” he said, adding that skipping such matches would be a small gesture in comparison to soldiers’ sacrifices.
Calls to limit Pakistan’s presence in Indian media
The former cricketer also urged Indian media to stop giving coverage to Pakistani players’ statements, arguing it fuels unnecessary attention. He suggested that Indian cricketers should avoid shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
“When we have boycotted them, why show them here? The media should stop highlighting them,” Harbhajan added.
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