When India and Pakistan meet in the Asia Cup 2025 final on Sunday, according to former player and administrator Ramiz Raja, the sport must return to a “moment of sanity.”
As the heated conflict breaks out at Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the third time in 15 days, millions of fans will watch and follow the game with bated breath from both South Asian countries and around the world.
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On the eve of the final, Raja told Al Jazeera, “The temperature must be lowered and all eyes should be on the game of cricket.”
Because the emotions are still raw, it is the responsibility of the cricket boards and players as well as the fans, stakeholders, and social media commentators to show astuteness. Everyone requires a brief period of sanity.
the effects of combining cricket and politics
The action that predominateds the final was one that had little to do with the sport itself, such as a no-handshake row, politically charged statements, contentious gesturing, or complaints to the game’s governing body, which reacted by slapging both sides on the wrist.
Following the release of complaints from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the International Cricket Council (ICC) held disciplinary hearings to investigate the statements and gestures of the rival players.
Suryakumar Yadav, the captain of India, was the first to make an appearance on Thursday at the ICC headquarters in Dubai. The PCB objected to the Indian army’s use of “Operation Sindoor” during his comments following India’s seven-wicket victory on September 14 when he made the comment during his post-match remarks.
Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf from Pakistan were summoned to the ICC headquarters on Friday for their gestures during the second meeting of the two teams, which took place on September 21 with India taking six wickets in the Super Fours match.
Rauf was seen chanting the crowd’s heckling as Farhan mimicked a gunshot to celebrate his maiden 50 years as an Indian, in alleged reference to Pakistan’s claims that six Indian air force planes were shot down during the four-day conflict.
Richie Richardson, the ICC match referee, conducted the hearings.
According to Al Jazeera, Richardson and Yadav both received fines of 30% of their respective match fees, while Farhan received a warning.
The sanctions have not been made formally by the ICC. Al Jazeera contacted the ICC to ask about the hearings, but it has not received a response.
Raja believes that the focus must shift to the on-field action now that the off-field theatrics have been addressed.
He argued that the ICC’s decision to fine players on both sides had helped to redefine the engagement rules for the final and reduced the pressure on them.
In the wake of Yadav’s comments and the gestures of the Pakistani players, Raja, who has previously taken the PCB’s helm, claimed the turmoil could have been avoided by both parties.
The first India vs. Pakistan final of the Asia Cup will take place on Sunday, which organizers, broadcasters, and sponsors may have aspired to in the 31 years since the tournament’s inception but were never successful in its 15 iterations.
Any meeting at an ICC event or regional competition is a highly anticipated affair because bilateral cricket series and tours between the two nuclear-armed neighbors are still suspended.
“Cricket needs to be at the top of the list.”
Former Pakistani cricket captain Raja has urged the players to stop letting the political unrest pour onto the field.
Because they are not trained to use political rhetoric, he said, “mixing politics with sport] takes away cricketers’ innocence.”
Raja played 38 international matches for India between 1984 and 1997.
“They don’t know it,” they say, “players]. They are unsure of what should be said and how much.
Before the final, Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha took questions from the media, bringing a sense of calm to the scene.
He reiterated his commitment to playing “good cricket” in the final while choosing not to make any comments on the contentious issues raised by the Indian team and media.
In addition, India’s bowling coach, who spoke to the media late on Friday, anticipated a difficult battle between the bat and ball.
“We look forward to the Sunday battle,” the leader said.
Raja agreed and suggested that things should move forward.
“The question should be whether Pakistan will win the game in the final,” or whether it will defeat India in a third successive defeat.
Pakistan has lost only once in the tournament against India, while India has maintained their unbeaten record to reach the final.
India, who Pakistan last defeated in September 2022, has now lost seven international games.
India vs. Pakistan continues to be the most popular international cricket item despite recent one-sided results, and Raja thinks politics play a significant role in this.
The political tension between these two nations, he said, “is the reason the entire world waits for this contest, not the skill levels of the players or the quality of the contest.”
