Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Arvind Sawant urged India to avoid playing cricket with Pakistan due to ongoing tensions during a Lok Sabha debate on Monday. His statement comes as India and Pakistan are set to face each other in the upcoming Asia Cup 2025, scheduled in the UAE from September 9 to 28.
During a special debate on Pahalgam terror strikes and Operation Sindoor, Sawant questioned India's decision to halt the war with Pakistan without imposing conditions when Pakistan was seeking a ceasefire.
Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!"If India was in the vantage position, then what stopped the country from reclaiming Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK)," Sawant said, suggesting it was time to take action similar to Indira Gandhi's approach during the 1971 war.
Sawant emphasized that playing cricket with Pakistan would be inappropriate given the history of conflicts between the nations. "It would be inappropriate for India to play cricket with Pakistan which has wounded India many times," he stated.
The Asia Cup 2025 will feature a T20 format, serving as preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
Sawant expressed concern over the lack of international support during Operation Sindoor, noting that China and Turkiye supported Pakistan instead.
He also pointed out that despite India's opposition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a loan to Pakistan, which is currently facing economic challenges.
Asia Cup Group:
Group A: India, Pakistan, UAE, Oman
Group B: Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong
The Super Four phase begins September 20, with A1 vs A2 potentially featuring another high-voltage India-Pakistan showdown on September 21.
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