New Delhi: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has taken aim at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for naming India’s squad for the upcoming Asia Cup Cricket 2025 — a tournament that could feature a match against Pakistan — even as Pakistan has withdrawn from the Hockey Asia Cup being hosted by India.
In a post on her official X (formerly Twitter) handle, Chaturvedi expressed her disapproval, stating:
“While Pakistan’s hockey team chose to skip the Asia Cup Hockey matches in India, the BCCI seems eager to proceed with a cricket face-off by announcing Team India for the Asia Cricket Cup. One can only imagine the sense of betrayal felt by the families of those who lost their lives in Pahalgam.”
Pakistan’s hockey authorities cited security concerns as the reason for withdrawing from the Hockey Asia Cup, a claim that Indian officials have dismissed.
Hockey India Secretary General and Asian Hockey Federation Vice President Bhola Nath Singh expressed disappointment over Pakistan’s decision, saying:
“Why Pakistan is not participating remains unclear to us. If they’re citing security reasons, I can say with full confidence that India’s security and arrangements are far superior to Pakistan’s.”
Singh also emphasized that India is committed to hosting a successful event and extending hospitality to all participating nations:
“We’re focused on the tournament and warmly welcome all the teams that are coming. Who chooses to participate or not is their decision.”
The contrast in approaches between the two sporting bodies — with hockey seeing a diplomatic rift and cricket moving forward — has sparked fresh political debate amid already strained Indo-Pak relations.
