How did Sourav Ganguly react to the India-Pakistan fixture in Asia Cup 2025?

Since Pahalgam attack happened in April 2025, the already strained relations between India and Pakistan have gone up a few more notches in intensity. Subsequently, there was strong uncertainty around the future sports engagements between the two countries, given the kind of marquee event it is. The nearest casualty seemed to be the 2025 Asia Cup of which India are the technical hosts.

While the Government of India refrained from any directives to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the feeling was that India-Pakistan matches might not happen, at least in the near future. The organisers of the current World Championship of Legends had to cancel the India-Pakistan match after a number of Indian cricket players, beginning with Harbhajan Singh, withdrew from the competition for political concerns. Before the game, there was a lot of criticism on social media as well, with some asking whether this match should be held given the state of politics.

As a result, the news that India and Pakistan were placed in the same Asia Cup 2025 group on Saturday, July 26, was unexpected. This implies that, should the two teams advance to the Super Four level, they will most likely face each other again after their first meeting. If the bitter rivals continue to compete in the competition, there is also the clear chance that they will face each other in the championship match. This implies that there would be at least one and possibly three India-Pakistan matches in September. Both the general public and experts have responded to this in polarised ways. Sourav Ganguly was one of the well-known individuals to voice his thoughts on this.

Ganguly supported the Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) decision to resume India-Pakistan matches, expressing the “show must go on” mentality in his remarks to ANI reporters at the Bengal Business Council annual convention in Kolkata on Sunday, July 27.

“With the India-Pakistan matches, I’m OK. Sports must continue. However, there shouldn’t be another Pahalgam. However, athletics must continue,” Ganguly stated.

However, the former captain of India firmly supported the Government of India’s position against Pakistan in general.

“Terrorism is impossible. India has, in my opinion, taken a firm stand against terrorism; that is the past. We simply must ensure that it doesn’t occur again. However, sports must be played.

Given that bilateral cricket between the two countries had been banned after the Kargil War of 1999, it should be mentioned that Ganguly was captain of the Indian men’s team that toured Pakistan in 2003–04 for an unforgettable series.