Ahead of the high-stakes Pakistan vs India Asia Cup 2025 clash, Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha is being urged to dedicate a potential victory to the Pakistan Army. The suggestion comes as a direct response to Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav’s recent political statement.
After India’s win over Pakistan earlier in the tournament, Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian Army and expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam incident. His comments drew sharp criticism for mixing politics with cricket, something that is explicitly discouraged under ICC regulations.
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Shahid Hashmi’s Advice to Pakistan Captain
Sports journalist Shahid Hashmi has publicly advised Salman Ali Agha to reply in kind by dedicating a win over India to Pakistan’s armed forces. According to him, such a gesture would balance Yadav’s remarks and send a strong symbolic message.
Hashmi shared his views during a sports segment, adding that Pakistan’s captain should not let India’s political narrative go unanswered on the cricket field.
ICC’s Middle-Ground on Pycroft Issue
On a separate note, Hashmi also addressed the controversy surrounding match referee Andy Pycroft. He explained that while Pakistan demanded his complete removal after alleged bias in the earlier Pakistan-India fixture, the ICC chose a middle path.
Instead of excluding Pycroft from the entire Asia Cup, the ICC decided to keep him away from Pakistan’s matches. Hashmi suggested this was a balanced outcome, allowing Pakistan’s concerns to be addressed without undermining the ICC’s authority.
Politics Overshadowing Cricket?
The debate highlights how political tensions between India and Pakistan continue to spill into cricket, overshadowing what is supposed to be a celebration of sport. Observers fear that if both sides continue linking wins to their militaries, the focus may drift further away from cricket and deepen existing divides.
