Manoj Tiwary Boycotts India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Match: ‘I Cannot Watch…’ | Cricket News

Former India batter Manoj Tiwary is not only boycotting the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai but also the entire continental event. According to him, he cannot watch the high-voltage Group A match between the arch-rivals, and it is very unfortunate that the match is going ahead despite boycott calls from various parts of the country.

While speaking to news agency ANI ahead of the start of the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Tiwary said, “…I am boycotting the India vs Pakistan match as well as the Asia Cup because I cannot watch this. It needs to be understood that this is just a sport; this is not life. We are comparing human lives to sports; this should never be done…”

“It is a very unfortunate situation. The problem has been ongoing for years. From Pulwama to Pahalgam to Pathankot to all the numerous terrorist attacks. No Indian has forgotten this… You want to play the India vs Pakistan match in such a situation. I have never been anti-sports; I have been a cricket player, and I am a sports minister. I had said that on a personal front, I am boycotting the India vs Pakistan match as well as the Asia Cup because I cannot watch this. It needs to be understood that this is just a sport; this is not life. We are comparing human lives to sports; this should never be done. Only the families of those who die in the line of duty while defending the nation and innocent civilians who are killed in terrorist attacks can understand this. So, I feel this should not have happened…” he added.

The match on Sunday will be the first time since the Pahalgam attack that India will take on the Pakistani team.

India kicked off its Asia Cup 2025 campaign on Wednesday, September 10, with a big 9-wicket win over United Arab Emirates in Dubai. In that fixture, Kuldeep Yadav picked up four wickets for Men in Blue and Shivam Dube finished with figures of 3 for 4 in 2 overs. Pakistan on the other hand, crushed Oman by 93 runs in their tournament’s opener.