The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) leaders launched a sharp attack on the BJP and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over India’s upcoming Asia Cup 2025 cricket match against Pakistan, set to be played in Abu Dhabi.
Party leader Aaditya Thackeray has called the match a “betrayal of the nation”, citing the recent Pahalgam terror attack.
Aaditya Thackeray on Friday voiced strong criticism, accusing the BCCI and the central government of putting profit over national interest.
Aaditya wrote on X, “I’m quite shocked to see the shameless behaviour of the @BCCI that is not just anti-national, but anti-human. Playing with Pakistan, from where the terrorists who massacred fellow Indians in Pahalgam came, for money is absolutely shameless.”
He also questioned why Pakistan boycotted the Asia Cup (Hockey) held in India, while BCCI continues to play with them in cricket. He urged the government to instruct the BCCI not to play with Pakistan until they stop supporting terrorism.
I’m quite shocked to see the shameless behaviour of the @BCCI that is not just anti- national, but anti- human.
Playing with pakistan, from where the terrorists who massacred fellow Indians in Pahalgam came, for money is absolute shameless.
Those playing must remember this.…
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) September 12, 2025
Earlier, on Thursday, Sanjay Raut announced that the party will hold a ‘Sindoor Raksha’ protest on Sunday, the day of the India-Pakistan match. Thousands of women from Maharashtra are expected to take part by sending sindoor (vermilion) from their homes to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a symbolic message, demanding a halt to sporting ties with Pakistan.
Sanjay Raut called the match “anti-national”, claiming that India must not play with a country that harbours terrorists. He added, “This is not just about cricket, this is about the dignity of our people and the blood of our soldiers.”
Referring to the April 22 Pahalgam attack, in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 persons, Raut said that Operation Sindoor which was launched by India, was still on and, therefore, sporting ties with the neighbouring nation was unacceptable.
India had launched Operation Sindoor on May 7 to avenge the Pahalgam attack, decimating terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir before the two nations agreed to end hostilities on May 10.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi wrote on X, “Has anyone compiled the list of all the app streamers/ cricket commentators/ broadcasters who have chosen to not stream the Ind vs Pak Asia Match? Would like to personally thank them for their bold step of standing up for India when our own government and the BCCI has failed the nation on this count.”
Has anyone compiled the list of all the app streamers/ cricket commentators/ broadcasters who have chosen to not stream the Ind vs Pak Asia Match? Would like to personally thank them for their bold step of standing up for India when our own government and the BCCI has failed the…
— Priyanka Chaturvedi🇮🇳 (@priyankac19) September 12, 2025
