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India hit back at Pakistan in the UN Security Council, calling it a nation that bombs its own people and carried out genocidal crimes during Operation Searchlight in 1971.

India Confronts Pakistan at UNSC Over Genocide Allegations

India Confronts Pakistan at the UNSC

India hit back at Pakistan in the UN Security Council, calling it a nation that bombs its own people and carried out genocidal crimes during Operation Searchlight in 1971.

In a strong retort against Pakistan in the UN Security Council, India on Monday said its neighbour as a country that &ldquo;bombs its own people&rdquo; and conducts &ldquo;systematic genocide&rdquo;.
During his remarks to the UNSC open debate on &ldquo;Women, Peace and Security&rdquo;, India&rsquo;s Permanent Representative to the UN Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish said Pakistan conducted Operation Searchlight in 1971 and sanctioned a systematic campaign of genocidal mass rape of 400,000 women citizens by its own army.
&ldquo;Every year, we are unfortunately fated to listen to the delusional tirade of Pakistan against my country, especially on Jammu and Kashmir, the Indian territory they covet,&rdquo; the Indian envoy said.
&ldquo;A country that bombs its own people, conducts systematic genocide, can only attempt to distract the world with misdirection and hyperbole,&rdquo; Harish said.
The world sees through Pakistan&rsquo;s propaganda, he added.
On March 25, 1971, the Pakistani army had launched a brutal crackdown involving widespread civilian killings throughout East Pakistan code-named &lsquo;Operation Searchlight&rsquo;.
Harish told the council meeting chaired by Russia that India&rsquo;s record on the "women, peace and security" agenda is unblemished and unscathed.
India&rsquo;s strong response in the council came after Pakistan, in its statement, raised the issue of Jammu and Kashmir. &ldquo;To exclude Kashmiri women from the Women, Peace and Security agenda erases its legitimacy and undermines its universality,&rdquo; the Pakistani delegate said in her statement.
Harish, in his remarks, also said that India remains unwavering in its commitment to the &ldquo;Women, Peace and Security&rdquo; agenda and stands ready to share its expertise with partners, particularly those in the Global South, fostering collective solutions to shared challenges.
He highlighted India&rsquo;s consistent contribution to UN peacekeeping as an expression of its commitment to global peace.
&ldquo;What distinguishes India's peacekeeping legacy is not merely the scale of our contribution, but our pioneering recognition of women as indispensable agents of peace,&rdquo; he said.
As early as the 1960s, India deployed women medical officers to the Congo, marking one of the earliest instances of women serving in UN peacekeeping operations, the ambassador said.
This was not merely a symbolic gesture but a practical acknowledgement that women's perspectives, skills, and presence are essential to effective peacekeeping, he said.
In February 2025, India hosted the International Conference on Women Peacekeepers from the Global South, bringing together women peacekeepers from 35 nations.
The two-day gathering examined the evolving challenges facing women in peacekeeping operations &mdash; from addressing sexual exploitation and abuse to leveraging technology for enhanced effectiveness.
The conference was not merely a forum for discussion but a platform for developing actionable strategies to increase women's participation and their impact in future peace missions, he said.

India extended their unbeaten ODI record against Pakistan to 12-0 with a commanding 88-run victory in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, powered by Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, and pacer Kranti Gaud’s standout performances in Colombo.

Women's World Cup: India crush Pakistan by 88 runs to extend unbeaten streak

India extended their unbeaten ODI record against Pakistan to 12-0 with a commanding 88-run victory in the ICC Women&rsquo;s World Cup 2025, powered by Harleen Deol, Richa Ghosh, and pacer Kranti Gaud&rsquo;s standout performances in Colombo.

The contrasting knocks of Harleen Deol and Richa Ghosh found ample support from the bowlers as India etched a commanding 88-run win over Pakistan in a drama-filled ICC Women's World Cup match in Colombo on Sunday.
Deol&rsquo;s composed 46 off 65 balls and Richa Ghosh&rsquo;s spirited 20-ball 35 lifted India to a competitive 247 on a sluggish track after the match referee erroneously ruled the toss in favour of Pakistan, who elected to bowl first.
Pacer Kranti Gaud (3/20) dismantled Pakistan's top order while the spinners cleaned up the middle-order and tail, bundling them out for 159, despite a valiant effort from Sidra Amin (81 off 106 balls).
With this win, India extended their perfect head to head record to 12-0 in ODIs.
The match moved on familiar lines and the expected hostilities were conspicuous by its absence, but the day was not entirely bereft of drama.
India continued their &ldquo;no-handshake&rdquo; policy at the toss or after the match, sticking to the precedent set during the men&rsquo;s Asia Cup in the UAE.
The gaffe during the toss added to the list of amusements which later swelled through a bizarre run out and the 15-minute delay due to bugs invading the field.
Cutting back to cricketing matters, Pakistan's chase of 248 began in chaos when opener Muneeba Ali (2) was sensationally run out.
Facing Gaud, she survived an initial leg-before appeal which was ruled not out, but as she momentarily wandered out of the crease with the ball still in play.
An alert Deepti Sharma swooped in with a direct hit to break the stumps with Muneeba's bat still in the air, much to the disappointment of skipper Fatima Sana who argued with the umpire.
Gaud then struck twice in quick succession, first dismissing Sadaf Shamas (6), caught off her own bowling, and then removing Aliya Riaz (2), leaving Pakistan reeling at 26/3.
As the Indian bowlers tightened their grip, Sidra and Natalia Pervaiz (33) offered resistance with a 69-run stand, briefly steadying the innings before the inevitable collapse followed.
Earlier, Indian batters struggled to get going on a slow track but Deol&rsquo;s knock provided some stability in the middle overs, during Richa's cameo, pushing India near the 250-run mark.
Opener Pratika Rawal (31) gave India a brisk start, smashing Diana Baig for three consecutive fours, but star batter Smriti Mandhana (23) once again fell inside the power play, putting the top-order under early pressure.
After surviving an unsuccessful leg-before appeal off Baig, Mandhana was trapped in front of the wicket by Pakistan skipper Fatima.
The disciplined Pakistan bowlers kept the batters on a leash with tight lines and clever variations in pace, denying them any rhythm and chipping away at regular intervals.
Pacers Baig (4/69) and Sana (2/38) did the maximum damage, sharing six wickets between them.
Rawal was next to go, her attempted cut shot brushing the top of the off stump.
Deol showed composure, stitching together a 39-run stand with Harmanpreet (19) and then added 45 with Jemimah Rodrigues (32).
However, Harmanpreet fell to an inside edge just when she looked set, while Deol, after doing the hard work by playing herself in, squandered the chance to push on in an attempt to hit a boundary.
Jemimah, who had an early reprieve on two after being caught off a no-ball, was the next to depart for 32 as Pakistan maintained relentless pressure.
Thereafter, the experienced pair of Deepti) and Sneh Rana (20) steadied the innings with a 42-run partnership.
But just as India looked poised for a late flourish, Sana and Baig returned in the death overs to dismiss both.
Just when Pakistan seemed to have choked India's momentum with five late wickets, Richa unleashed a blistering little innings, hitting three fours and two sixes, including an audacious sweep to push India to an adequate total.&nbsp;

Middle-order batter Tilak Varma said India’s Asia Cup triumph was the “best reply” to Pakistan’s sledging, highlighting focus, partnerships, and calm under pressure.

Tilak Varma's Heroics Lead India to Asia Cup Victory Amidst Tensions

Tilak Varma Leads India to Asia Cup Glory

Middle-order batter Tilak Varma said India&rsquo;s Asia Cup triumph was the &ldquo;best reply&rdquo; to Pakistan&rsquo;s sledging, highlighting focus, partnerships, and calm under pressure.

Winning the Asia Cup was the "best reply" to an aggressive opposition, middle-order batter Tilak Varma said on Tuesday, revealing that he aced an initial bout of pressure and verbal volleys by Pakistan players en route his match winning half-century in the title clash.
Tilak made an unbeaten 69 to guide India to a five-wicket win over their arch-rivals at Dubai last Sunday.
"There was some pressure and nerves initially. But I have placed my country ahead of everything else and I wanted to win the match for the country. I knew If I succumbed to the pressure at that time I would be letting down myself and 140 crore people of the country," Tilak said after his arrival from Dubai last night. "I believed in the basics that I learned as a young cricketer from my coaches and executed it. The best reply to them was to win the match and that's what we did," he added.
Tilak admitted that the Pakistan players resorted to some intense sledging during the match, but he preferred to maintain silence while the chase of 147 was on.
"We lost three wickets quickly and things were a bit heated up then. I came to bat a bit earlier than normal. But I did not say anything or play a rash shot to let the team and country down," he said.
However, the Hyderabadi revealed that he gave a piece of his mind to Pakistan players once India surmounted the target.
"During the match, I was just focusing on my basics, I was not ready to answer them. Whatever I want to tell them I told them after the match and not when the game was going on.
"There were a lot of things happening in the middle but I can't reveal all of them. Those things happen in India vs Pakistan matches and they are part of the game. But our focus was on winning the match," he said.
India required to score 10 runs off the last over bowled by pacer Haris Rauf, and Tilak said he was able to overcome the pressure by then.
"I was not under pressure (in the last over). I knew that I will win the game. I was just thinking about my country and was focussing on one ball at a time. I backed myself to deliver for the country and I am so proud of it," he added.
Tilak said India won the match because they were able to stitch together partnerships on a not-so-easy pitch to bat on.
"I agree with Surya bhai's statement of 'no rivalry' but this is sports and we knew that they will come prepared for the final.
"We were expecting that and we were prepared when they took the pace off the ball and the pitch was also not easy to bat on. We made some good partnerships and won the match and are proud of that," he noted.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav pledged his Asia Cup match fee of ₹28 lakh to the armed forces and families of Pahalgam terror attack victims after India’s title win over Pakistan.

Suryakumar Yadav Donates Asia Cup Fee to Armed Forces

Suryakumar's Asia Cup Donation to Armed Forces

India captain Suryakumar Yadav pledged his Asia Cup match fee of ₹28 lakh to the armed forces and families of Pahalgam terror attack victims after India&rsquo;s title win over Pakistan.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav will donate his entire match fee from the just-concluded Asia Cup to the country's armed forces and the victims of Pahalgam terror attack.
India defeated bitter foes Pakistan by five wickets in the final to win the trophy on Sunday night in Dubai.
"I have decided to donate my match fees from this tournament to support our Armed Forces and the families of the victims who suffered from the Pahalgam terror attack. You always remain in my thoughts. Jai Hind," the 35-year-old posted on 'X' after the high-voltage win.
India players are entitled to Rs four lakh per match in the T20 format, which means that Suryakumar would be donating a total of Rs 28 lakh for the seven games played in the continental event.
The Indian team steadfastly refused to exchange pleasantries with the Pakistani side during the entire tournament, where it ended up beating Salman Ali Agha's men on three consecutive Sundays.
Suryakumar had taken the lead in snubbing Pakistan at every opportunity during the tournament.
He also paid tribute to the Pahalgam attack victims and the Indian armed forces after his team beat the arch foes in a group match on September 14. A furious Pakistan had accused him of making political statements and sought a ban on him in its complaint to the ICC.
The world body had then asked him to refrain from making any statement that might be construed political, besides imposing a 30 per cent fine on his match fee of that day.
The BCCI has challenged the fine on him after Suryakumar pleaded not guilty during the ICC hearing last week.&nbsp;

BCCI will strongly protest against ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi at ICC’s November meeting after India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from him, citing his anti-India stance.

Will protest strongly with ICC: BCCI on Indian team being denied Asia Cup trophy by Naqvi

BCCI will strongly protest against ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi at ICC&rsquo;s November meeting after India refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from him, citing his anti-India stance.

The BCCI will lodge a "very strong protest" in the next ICC meeting in November against Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who walked away with the Asia Cup trophy after the Indian team refused to accept it from him in Dubai.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia justified the team's refusal saying that India cannot accept the trophy from a person who is "waging a war against the country." India defeated Pakistan by five wickets in the final on Sunday with Tilak Varma hitting an unbeaten 69 to be adjudged the Player of the Match for the summit clash.
"So far as the trophy is concerned, trophy distribution, India cannot take the trophy from the person who is waging a war against our country," Saikia said.
"We have taken a decision not to accept the trophy but that does not allow the gentleman to take away the trophy and the medals to his hotel," he added.
"This is unexpected, very childish in nature and we will launch a very strong protest with ICC in the forthcoming ICC meeting to be held in Dubai in the first week of November." Naqvi is also the head of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Interior Minister of his country. Saikia praised the Indian team for their unbeaten run in the competition.
"India won all the seven matches at the group stage. India won all the three matches. Thereafter in the group of four they won the matches and finally also," he said.
"Out of these seven matches, India won against Pakistan 3-0. So this is a big victory and (a) big time cricket achievement for the country." On the team's decision to play the tournament despite massive criticism of engagement with Pakistan in the backdrop of Pahalgam terror attack, Saikia said the Board has followed the policy set by the Indian government.
"...when it is a bilateral tournament, India is not going to play against Pakistan or any other hostile country and BCCI has been doing it for last 12 to 15 years," he said.
"And now the Government has said that in multinational tournaments -- Asia Cup is a multinational tournament --, or an international tournament where a lot of other countries are also involved. In those tournaments, Indian team, whether it is cricket or football, we have to play." "Otherwise, our other games will suffer or the federation will be banned by international federations, so we followed the policy of the central government. We participated inspite of the fact that there are some protests or some resistance from some quarters," he continued.
Saikia said beating Pakistan across three games of this Asia Cup will bring "happiness to our people".
"Today, with this handsome win over Pakistan and the thumping victory of 3-0, I am sure we will bring a lot of happiness to our people. The country is really proud of the performance of Indian cricket team," he said.&nbsp;

Pakistan defended 135 with a spirited bowling effort to beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in Dubai, setting up a blockbuster Asia Cup 2025 final against India.

Pakistan beat Bangladesh, set up first ever Asia Cup final date against India

Pakistan defended 135 with a spirited bowling effort to beat Bangladesh by 11 runs in Dubai, setting up a blockbuster Asia Cup 2025 final against India.

Pakistan's bowling unit came to the party when it mattered the most as they defended a modest 135 with all its might against Bangladesh in Dubai on Thursday, winning the Super 4s match by 11 runs to set up a maiden Asia Cup title clash with arch-rivals India.
Taking into account the simmering off-field tension between India and Pakistan, no one would be more happier than the Asian Cricket Council and the tournament's official broadcasters, who would be laughing their way to the bank after Bangladesh made a hash of their chase.
They came close in the end though, managing 124 for nine in 20 overs.
The target could have been chased with a bit of common sense and some proper cricketing shots, but the Bangladeshi batters found every possible way to get dismissed after Shaheen Shah Afridi (3/17 in 4 overs) bowled a brilliant opening spell, taking two wickets in the powerplay.
Once Haris Rauf (3/23 in 3 overs) got rid of the opposition danger-man Saif Hassan (18), who had warmed up with two sixes, none of the other batters showed the stomach for a fight. Rauf later polished off the tail with couple of express deliveries and kept his cool to bowl the final two deliveries on spot.
The saddest part was that none of the Bangladeshi batters had a clue as to how to play the spin troika of off-break bowler Saim Ayub (2/16 in 4 overs), slow left-arm orthodox Mohammed Nawaz (1/14 in 3 overs) and wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed (0/23 in 3 overs), who put the brakes on them during the middle overs.
Shamim Hossain (30 off 26 balls) played a horrible flat-batted reverse shot off a Afridi back-of-the-hand slower ball in his final over, and Bangladesh had no chance of scoring 39 in three overs.
Earlier, Bangladesh bowlers gave a fine account of themselves in humid conditions for the second day in a row as they restricted a fancied Pakistan batting line-up to 135 for eight in the winner-takes-it-all clash.
Senior Bangladesh bowlers Mustafizur Rahaman (1/33 in 4 overs), Taskin Ahmed (3/28 in 4 overs) and leg-spinner Rishad Hossain (2/18 in 4 overs) made full use of a tacky turner as none of the top-order Pakistan batters could make significant contributions.
Mohammed Haris (31 off 23 balls), their best batter in the tournament, once again kept them in the fight, with a plucky knock while Shaheen Shah Afridi (19) with a couple of sixes and a lucky Mohammed Nawaz (25 off 15 balls) also did their bit after a total of even 100 looked improbable.
It started with controversial opener Sahibzada Farhan (4) slashing a rising delivery from Taskin Ahmed and Rishad Hossain at backward point snapping it. Sahibzada was Taskin's 100th wicket in T20 Internationals.
Saim Ayub (0), the over-rated Pakistani youngster, got his fourth duck as he couldn't clear the mid-on against off-spinner Mahedi Hasan (2/28 in 4 overs)'s bowling.
Fakhar Zaman (13), Hussain Talat (3) and Salman Ali Agha (19) were all gone even before the total reached 50. But Afridi, Haris and Nawaz struck a few sixes, and a few dropped catches, meant that Pakistan crossed the 125-run mark.

Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, and Varun Chakravarthy held on to their No.1 spots in the latest ICC T20 rankings, with Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Mustafizur Rahman also making notable gains.

Indian Stars Shine in ICC T20 Rankings Update

Indian Players Dominate ICC T20 Rankings

Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, and Varun Chakravarthy held on to their No.1 spots in the latest ICC T20 rankings, with Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav and Mustafizur Rahman also making notable gains.

The Indian trio of all-rounder Hardik Pandya, mystery spinner Varun Chakravarthy and aggressive opener Abhishek Sharma retained their respective top positions in the ICC T20 rankings, released on Wednesday.
Chakravarthy, who became the top-ranked bowler last week, has consolidated his place with a 14 rating points gain taking him to 747 points.
Following an 11-place jump last week, Pakistan's Abrar Ahmed has made another massive leap, this time by 12 spots.
After a temporary dip in form, which saw him lose four ranking positions last week, Bangladesh's seasoned T20I pacer Mustafizur Rahman is back in top 10 courtesy a six-place jump. The left-arm pacer has grabbed six wickets at an average of eight in his last two outings in the tournament.
Pandya who continues to lead the all-rounder's list has also made bowling gains, moving up six places up to 60.
Among the batters, opener Abhishek made rating points gains while retaining his place as the No.1 ranked T20I batter. He hit a quick-fire 38 against Oman during India's final group stage clash, before smashing a match-winning 74 to chase down Pakistan&rsquo;s total of 171 on Sunday.
Tilak Varma, who helped finish the chase against Pakistan with an electric 30 not out off 19, moved up a rung to No.3.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav too gained a place to move within touching distance of the top five.
Sahibzada Farhan, who smashed a 58 off 45 to get Pakistan going in the same game, jumped 31 spots to reach 24th place.
Hussain Talat who guided Pakistan to a win against Sri Lanka with a composed innings, jumped an astronomical 1474 spots to become the joint 234th placed in the men's T20I batter rankings.
Another massive gainer was Saif Hassan, whose 61 had helped Bangladesh get to a winning start in Super Fours at Asia Cup. The batter gained 133 places to reach the 81st ranking in the batting charts.

Abhishek Sharma said his aggressive 74 off 39 balls was the perfect answer to Pakistan players’ on-field hostility as India beat Pakistan by six wickets in the Asia Cup Super 4.

I didn't like the way Pakistan players coming at us for no reason: Abhishek on aggressive batting

Abhishek Sharma said his aggressive 74 off 39 balls was the perfect answer to Pakistan players&rsquo; on-field hostility as India beat Pakistan by six wickets in the Asia Cup Super 4.

India opener Abhishek Sharma said he did not like the needless belligerence of Pakistan players in their Asia Cup Super 4 match on Sunday, and an ultra-aggressive batting approach was the best possible way to reply to an in-the-face opposition.
Abhishek slammed a 39-ball 74 and shared a 105-run opening wicket stance with Shubman Gill as India surmounted a 172-run target with six wickets to spare in Dubai.
"Today it was very simple, the way they (Pakistan players) were coming at us for no reason, I didn't like it at all and this is the only way (his aggressive batting) I could give medicine to them," said Abhishek in the post-match presentation.
Both Abhishek and Gill had run-ins with Pakistan pacers Haris Rauf and Shaheen Shah Afridi during the match at the DICS.
Besides that, Abhishek was delighted to have shared a wonderful alliance with Gill, someone he shares a deep bond from age-group cricket.
"We have been playing since school days, we enjoy each other's company, we thought we would do it and today was the day. The way he was giving it back, I really enjoyed it.
"It's (the way he bats) because the team supports me. That's the intent I show and I'm practicing really hard and if it's my day, I'm gonna win it for my team," he added.
Ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah had an off-day, conceding over 10 runs an over during his four-over spell. But skipper Suryakumar Yadav did not read too much into it.
"That's fine, he's not a robot, he will have a bad day someday. But (Shivam) Dube bailed us out of the situation," he said.
Suryakumar lauded Gill and Abhishek for giving India a perfect start.
"They complement each other really well (Abhishek and Gill). It's like a fire and ice combination," said Suryakumar and added in half-jest that fielding coach T Dilip will mail the players about dropping four catches while fielding.
The Mumbai man was happy to see the way the team fought back after a rather listless first 10 overs where Pakistan made runs in excess of nine runs an over.
"The way the boys are stepping up in every game, it's making my job very easy. The boys showed a lot of character.
"They were calm after the first 10 overs (of India's bowling innings). After drinks, I told them the game starts now," he noted.
Pakistan skipper Salman Agha said the way India batted in the Power Play segment turned the game on its head.
"We are yet to play a perfect game, but we are getting there. A great game but in the Power Play they took the game away from us.
"Looking back with the position we were in after 10 overs, we could have got 10-15 more. 170-180 is a good total but in the Power Play they batted well, that was the difference," said Agha.&nbsp;

Abhishek Sharma’s 39-ball 74 and a 105-run stand with Shubman Gill led India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in a heated Asia Cup Super 4 clash in Dubai.

Asia Cup Super 4: Abhi 'Shakes' Pakistan as India canter home by six wickets

Abhishek Sharma&rsquo;s 39-ball 74 and a 105-run stand with Shubman Gill led India to a six-wicket win over Pakistan in a heated Asia Cup Super 4 clash in Dubai.

Abhishek Sharma was brutal and beautiful in equal measure during his scintillating 74 as India made a tricky chase look comfortable, winning an ill-tempered Super 4 contest of the Asia Cup against Pakistan by six wickets in Dubai on Sunday.&nbsp;
Left-handed Abhishek, who got 30-plus knocks in all the group league games, hit six fours and five sixes in his 39-ball knock.
As he was dismissed trying to hit his sixth maximum, it left everyone in a daze and still yearning for more.
If Shivam Dube's double blows in the Pakistan innings' back-10 opened the game for India, Abhishek and his best buddy Shubman Gill (47 off 28 balls) set up the chase of 172 with a 105-run opening stand.
The inseparable duo, who had been playing together since their Punjab U-12 days, sent the bowlers on a leather hunt.
It started with a hooked six by Abhishek off the very first delivery from Shaheen Shah Afridi (0/40 in 3.5 overs) as he picked wrist spinner Abrar Ahmed for special treatment, sending him for four more maximums.
Gill, who had a poor first 10 days of the tournament, was finally in his elements and was severe on pacers and spinners alike.
But the lofted drive over extra cover off Afridi, would be remembered for a long time.
The match didn't end without its share of skirmishes and every time it was Pakistani players, who started it but Indians, who finished it.
After being hit for a boundary, Afridi had a word for Gill, who showed him where the ball went.
Similarly when ill-tempered Haris Rauf was given a belt treatment by Abhishek, he tried to get into a physical altercation only to be stopped by the umpires as Gautam Gambhir sent three of his reserves to diffuse the situation.
Rauf, who was looking for a confrontation, didn't stop there.
After removing Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav cheaply, the fast bowler celebrated with a gesture of flying a fighter aircraft, trying to add fuel to the fire.
After that, wherever Rauf was positioned the field, Indian fans would chant "Kohliiii Kohliii" rubbing it in about those two iconic sixes the Indian talisman hit at the MCG during a T20 World Cup game in 2022.
Tilak Varma (30 not out off 19 balls) ensured that after a mini-collapse, that there were no more twists in the tale, finishing the chase with utmost calm in 18.5 overs.
Tilak and Hardik Pandya (7 not out) walked off the ground without shaking hands with opposition players in continuation of the &lsquo;No Handshake Policy.&rsquo; It may be recalled that skipper Suryakumar too did not shake hands with his counterpart Salman Agha during the toss earlier in the night.
Earlier, Dube turned out to be an unlikely bowling hero as India bowlers were better at the back-10 after a listless front-10 even as Pakistan managed a competitive 171 for 5 after being put into bat.
Stylish right-handed opener Sahibzada Farhan headlined the Pakistan innings with an attractive 58 off 45 balls as Kuldeep Yadav's dropped catch off Varun Chakravarthy's bowling turned out to be costly.
However, Pakistan after a brilliant front-10 in which they scored 91 for 1 riding on a 72-run stand between Sahibzada and Saim Ayub (21 off 17 balls), tapered off during back-10 managing 80 runs for the loss of four wickets.
Once the back-10 started after the drinks break, Indian bowlers had a better control rate as Dube (2/33 in 4 overs) struck a couple of crucial blows which could prove to be game changer in the final context of the match.
First was a heavy ball that forced Ayub to go for a 'Nataraja' (one-legged) pull-shot but was brilliantly snaffled by Abhishek, who sprinted from the deep and took a superb diving catch inches off the ground.
While Hussain Talat, the new entrant, failed to read Kuldeep and was out cheaply, Farhan, who after a 34-ball-50, couldn't get big shots going as Dube cleverly used the change of pace to deceive and the result was an easy skier for Chakravarthy.
Credit should also go to Chakravarthy (0/25 in 4 overs), who might have gone wicketless but his overs did put brakes on Pakistan and enabled Dube to buy wickets just when the opposition wanted to go on the offensive.
Towards the end, skipper Agha (17 not out off 13 balls) and Mohammed Nawaz (21 off 19 balls) got a few runs but couldn't consistently hit big shots save in the last over from Dube which cost him 17 runs.
However, Jasprit Bumrah&rsquo;s effort (0/45 in 4 overs) might worry Indians a bit as the ace pacer again bowled three of his four overs inside the Power Play and conceded six boundaries -- something Indian cricket followers mustn't have witnessed for ages.
In the penultimate over, Faheem Ashraf (20 not out off 8 balls), hit him for a monstrous six as the total crossed the 170-run mark.&nbsp;

Varun Chakaravarthy rises to the top of ICC T20 bowlers’ rankings, joining Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi as India’s third No.1 bowler, following stellar Asia Cup performances.

Varun Chakaravarthy Tops ICC T20 Bowler Rankings, Makes History

Varun Chakaravarthy Tops ICC T20 Rankings

Varun Chakaravarthy rises to the top of ICC T20 bowlers&rsquo; rankings, joining Jasprit Bumrah and Ravi Bishnoi as India&rsquo;s third No.1 bowler, following stellar Asia Cup performances.

Mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy on Wednesday rose to the top of the ICC T20 Bowlers' Rankings for the first time in his career, becoming only the third Indian to achieve this feat.
The 34-year-old emulated fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah and leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi by moving up three spots following spells of 1/4 against the UAE and 1/24 in against Pakistan.
Chakaravarthy, whose previous best was second place in February 2025, displaced New Zealand&rsquo;s Jacob Duffy, who had held the top position since March.
"India spinner Varun Chakaravarthy has been rewarded for his consistent form in 2025 by becoming the No.1 ranked bowler on the latest ICC Men's T20I Player Rankings," the ICC said in a statement.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav has made a significant leap, jumping 16 places to 23rd, while spin all-rounder Axar Patel has moved up one place to 12th.
Bumrah has also improved his position, rising four spots to 40th.
In the all-rounders' rankings, Hardik Pandya continues to hold the top spot, while Abhishek Sharma has climbed four places to 14th.
Abhishek has also consolidated his position at the top of the T20 batting rankings. His explosive innings of 30 off 16 balls against the UAE and 31 off 13 against Pakistan have helped him achieve a career-high 884 rating points.
His opening partner Shubman Gill has moved up four places to 39th. However, Tilak Varma and captain Suryakumar Yadav have slipped in the rankings.
Tilak is down two spots to fourth, while Suryakumar has dropped one position to seventh. Yashasvi Jaiswal, who was not included in the Asia Cup squad, has also fallen two places to 13th.
The England opening pair of Phil Salt and Jos Buttler have advanced one spot each to second and third positions, respectively, after their scintillating performances in the second T20 against South Africa in Manchester.
Salt's 141 not out off 60 balls, which was the highest score and the fastest T20 century by an England batter, inched back towards his career-best No. 1 position while Buttler&rsquo;s 83 off 30 helped him attain a career-high 794 rating points and make a first appearance inside the top three.

Pakistan Cricket Board continues to demand replacement of match referee Andy Pycroft in Asia Cup following handshake controversy with India, despite withdrawing threat to pull out.

Pakistan Withdraws Asia Cup Threat, Pushes for Referee Change

Pakistan Seeks ICC Referee Change in Asia Cup

Pakistan Cricket Board continues to demand replacement of match referee Andy Pycroft in Asia Cup following handshake controversy with India, despite withdrawing threat to pull out.

Pakistan may have withdrawn the threat to pull out of the Asia Cup but their objection to match referee Andy Pycroft still stands and the PCB has shot off another letter to the ICC demanding that the Zimbabwean be swapped with Richie Richardson for the team's remaining games.
It has been reliably learnt that late on Tuesday evening, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent another mail to the ICC reiterating the demand to remove Pycroft from all its games but as of now, it hasn't been obliged by the world body.
Pycroft is due to officiate Pakistan's must-win game against the UAE later this evening.
The controversy began after Indian players led by skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with the Pakistan team at the end of their match on Sunday. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha didn't attend the post-match presentation ceremony in protest.
PCB blamed Pycroft for the fiasco, saying that he asked Salman not to shake hands with Suryakumar and also did not allow the exchange of team-sheets between the two skippers as is the norm.
Suryakumar, on his part, stated that the decision to avoid handshakes with the cross-border rivals was a gesture of solidarity towards the victims of the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian Armed Forces which carried out Operation Sindoor in retaliation.
Pakistan, however, labelled Indian players' actions as "unsporting", while blaming Pycroft for acting in a partisan manner. The accusations were followed by a pullout threat and a formal demand to have Pycroft removed by the ICC, which rejected the plea.
Pakistan stand to lose close to USD 16 million if they act on the threat and it would also be very poor optics for the country's cricket board which is headed by the current chair of the Asian Cricket Council, Mohsin Naqvi.
In its initial letter to the ICC, PCB had stated: "The match referee failed to discharge his responsibility: to ensure that respect was extended and maintained amongst the captains as well as between the two competing sides; and to create a positive atmosphere by his conduct and encourage the captains and participating teams to do likewise.
"In fact, the match referee's instructions to the two team captains were entirely directed towards achieving the opposite result. This misconduct violates Article 2 of the ICC Code of Conduct for Match Officials, which specifically makes it an offence for the Match Referee to conduct himself in a manner, which is contrary to the spirit of game and violates the MCC Laws." "Given the gravity, political nature/background, and far-reaching consequences and repercussions, the misconduct has also caused disrepute to the game." As per article 2.1.1 of ICC's Code of Conduct, "spirit of the game may be defined by reference to the Preamble to the Laws of Cricket and involves respect for, amongst others (a) the role of the umpires and (b) the game and its traditional values." However, handshakes between rival players is a mere convention and not prescribed under any laws of the game.
Pakistan's leading daily, 'Dawn' has quoted a PCB source as saying that Pakistan team director Naveed Akram Cheema had been told that Pycroft was acting at the behest of BCCI.
"A Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) source, requesting anonymity, told Dawn.com on Monday that Cheema had also approached tournament director Andy Russell with his concerns, upon which he was informed that the match referee had been acting at the behest of the BCCI," the report stated.

The ICC has turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board’s request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from officiating in the Asia Cup.

ICC Rejects PCB's Plea to Remove Referee Pycroft from Asia Cup

ICC Dismisses PCB's Plea on Referee Issue

The ICC has turned down the Pakistan Cricket Board&rsquo;s request to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from officiating in the Asia Cup.

The ICC on Tuesday rejected Pakistan's demand to remove match referee Andy Pycroft from the panel of officials for the ongoing Asia Cup despite the PCB's reported threat of a pullout after blaming the Zimbabwean for the "no handshake" furore that followed the game against India.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had filed a complaint with the ICC alleging that Pycroft asked its captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav at the time of toss in their Asia Cup match on Sunday.
"Late last night, ICC had sent a reply to PCB stating that Pycroft won't be removed and their plea has been rejected," an ICC source told PTI.
The 69-year-old Zimbabwean is due to officiate Pakistan's final group stage game against the UAE on Wednesday.
Pakistan team manager Naved Cheema had also filed a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council alleging that it was on Pycroft's insistence that team sheets weren't exchanged between the two skippers on Sunday as is the norm.
After the match that India won by seven wickets, Suryakumar and his men did not exchange handshakes with their cross-border rivals as a mark of respect for the Pahalgam terror attack victims and their families.
Pycroft is one of the senior-most match referees in ICC Elite Panel with 695 international games to his credit (men and women across three formats).
It is reliably learnt that the situation arose due to PCB's Director of Cricket Operations Usman Walha, who didn't apprise his own skipper about the rules and regulations that are to be followed during the tournament.
It is learnt that an irate PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the current chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), ordered the sacking of Walha on Monday for the embarrassment caused to the national cricket team and its captain.
According to well-placed sources, it was Walha's duty to inform Salman about the "No Handshake" policy but he didn't do so and the Pakistan skipper was apparently caught unawares by the turn of events.
"Walha should have released a statement at the toss itself when the two captains didn't shake hands. Naqvi apparently was furious as he handled it poorly," a PCB source said.
The PCB had wanted Pycroft to be removed from the entire tournament but now it would be interesting to see if they continue playing after the ICC, headed by India's Jay Shah, summarily rejected their demand.
It is understood that PCB is trying to work out a respectable solution by which Pycroft doesn't officiate in their matches.
One proposal given by the PCB is to have Richie Richardson stand in its match against the UAE on Wednesday but whether that would happen or not is the big question.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a complaint with the ICC seeking immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging violations of the code of conduct during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai.

PCB Demands Match Referee's Removal After India Clash in Asia Cup

PCB Calls for Removal of Referee After India Match

The Pakistan Cricket Board has lodged a complaint with the ICC seeking immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging violations of the code of conduct during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match in Dubai.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday demanded immediate removal of match referee Andy Pycroft from the Asia Cup, alleging violation of the apex body's code of conduct by him during the game against India in Dubai.
Pycroft officiated the match at the end of which Indian players did not shake hands with the rival team. The PCB has lodged a formal complaint against Pycroft with the ICC.
"The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup," PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said on 'X'.
Pakistan had earlier taken up the issue with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), labelling the Indian players' conduct as "unsporting".
"Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players' behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the sport of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post match ceremony," read a PCB statement issued earlier.
The arch-rivals faced each other on a cricket ground for the first time since the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir and the ensuing 'Operation Sindoor' by India on terror infrastructure across the border in May.&nbsp;

Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council after Indian players refused handshakes post Asia Cup match. India said the move was to honour victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistan lodges protest with ACC after Indian players refuse handshake post match

Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council after Indian players refused handshakes post Asia Cup match. India said the move was to honour victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

Pakistan have lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council over the Indian players' refusal to shake hands with them following their Asia Cup game in Dubai.
In a statement late on Sunday night, Pakistan Cricket Board labelled India's actions as "unsporting" post the seven-wicket win for the Suryakumar Yadav-led unit.
"Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players' behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the sport of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post match ceremony," read a PCB statement.
Suryakumar, on his part, said the decision to not shake hands with the opposition was their way of showing solidarity with the families of the victims of Pahalgam terrorist attack in April.
The arch-rivals faced each other on a cricket ground for the first time since the dastardly attack in Kashmir and the ensuing 'Operation Sindoor' by India on terror infrastructure across the border in May.
It turned out to be a no contest with India outplaying Pakistan in all departments.

After India’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup, skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the armed forces and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighting solidarity and national pride.

We stand by victims of Pahalgam terror attack, dedicate win over Pakistan to Indian armed forces: Surya

After India&rsquo;s seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup, skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the armed forces and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, highlighting solidarity and national pride.

Skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Sunday dedicated the Indian team's thumping seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup to the country's armed forces and said that his side stands with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
Suryakumar made the remarks after his side completed its second consecutive win in the tournament, this time against the traditional rivals in their first face-off on a cricket ground since the dastardly terror attack and the ensuing 'Operation Sindoor' by India on terror infrastructure across the border in May.
"I think it's a perfect occasion and taking the time out, we stand by with the victims of the families of Pahalgam terror attack and we express our solidarity," Suryakumar told the broadcaster after the match in Dubai.
"Also the most important thing for me, we want to dedicate today's win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery and hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground, whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile," he added.
The Indian team players were not seen shaking hands with their Pakistan counterparts after the match as teams usually do after the conclusion of a contest.
There was also no handshake between the two captains &mdash; Suryakumar and Pakistan's Salman Agha &mdash; during the coin toss as they handed over their respective team sheets to match referee Andy Pycroft from Zimbabwe and spoke with broadcaster and former India player Ravi Shastri.&nbsp;

Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel starred with spin as India crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in Dubai. Suryakumar Yadav sealed the win on his birthday with an unbeaten 47.

India thrash Pakistan by 7 wickets, players refrain from shaking hands

Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel starred with spin as India crushed Pakistan by seven wickets in Dubai. Suryakumar Yadav sealed the win on his birthday with an unbeaten 47.

Kuldeep Yadav's craft and Axar Patel's discipline was way beyond comprehension for a clueless group of Pakistani batters as India displayed absolute dominance to register a convincing seven-wicket victory in a lopsided Asia Cup match in Dubai on Sunday.
Despite calls for boycotting the match from certain quarters as a mark of protest for the Pahalgam terror attack in April, a near full-capacity crowd dominated by 85 percent Indian fans witnessed a clinical decimation of Pakistan -- one ball at a time.
And to rub it in, neither at the toss nor at the end of the match did the India players shake hands with their counterparts from Pakistan, even as they waited in a queue moments after skipper Suryakumar Yadav sealed the issue with a six.
Spinners Axar (2/18 in 4 overs), Kuldeep (3/18 in 4 overs) and Varun (1/24 in 4 overs) were immaculate in terms of line and length as none of the Pakistani batters showed the wherewithal to play the troika from their hands.
The result was a lowly 127 for nine from Pakistan which was at least 50 runs below the par-score.
In reply, Abhishek Sharma (31 off 13 balls) flayed their biggest bowling hope Shaheen Shah Afridi (0/23 in 2 overs) with utter disdain, while Suryakumar celebrated his 35th birthday with a fine 47 not out off 37 balls in a chase that was completed in 15.5 overs.
Suryakumar finished it off in style and then walked straight back to the dug-out without shaking hands with the Pakistan players on the field.
The match was won in the first innings itself when Axar, Kuldeep and Varun delivered 40 dot balls between them and cumulatively took 6 for 60 in their 12 overs.
Add another 15 dot balls from Jasprit Bumrah (2/28 in 4 overs), and one can understand the plight of the Pakistani batters, who played dot balls worth 10.1 overs.
Bumrah's greatness could be gauged by the fact that on the day he was hit for his first six in a limited overs international (T20Is and ODIs combined) by a Pakistani batter after sending down 400 legal deliveries.
Had Shaheen Shah Afridi (33 not out off 16 balls) not used the long handle, the score wouldn't have gone past 125.
During the chase, Abhishek deflated the Pakistani hopes with a straight boundary and then a couple of sixes to up the ante.
Even after Shubman Gill (10) was quickly dismissed and Abhishek departed inside the fourth over, Suryakumar and Tilak Naidu (31 off 31 balls) didn't look in any hurry while adding 56 runs for the third wicket.
Earlier, Suryakumar lost the toss, didn't shake hands with his counterpart Salman Ali Agha, but never lost the plot as the opposition batters were all at sea from the very first legal delivery, when the highly rated Saim Ayub (0) slashed one off Hardik Pandya (1/34 in 3 overs) to Bumrah at point.
Bumrah in the next over got last match's top scorer Mohammad Haris (3) who tried a pick-up pull shot, but this time, Pandya returned the favour to India's lead pacer by taking a well-judged catch in fine leg region.
Sahibzada Farhan (40 of 44 balls) did hit Bumrah for a couple of sixes but largely couldn't read any of the Indian spinners as dot balls accumulated by the dozen.
It was not just poor shot selection but also lack of technique that troubled the Pakistan batters against the world's top spinners.
Only Fakhar Zaman (17 off 15 balls) could be excused for taking risk against Axar as he has had a good career match-up against slow left-arm orthodox bowlers.
Moments after Axar was brought into the attack, Fakhar went for the jugular and was caught at long-on by Tilak Varma.
Since they were unable to read the Indian wrist spinners from their hands, the Pakistani batters went for the obvious but high-risk option of playing the slog sweep. Both skipper Salman (3 off 12 balls) and the hard-hitting Hasan Nawaz tried to hit out of trouble without gauging the length and extra bounce.
The left-handed Mohammed Nawaz found Kuldeep's googly too hot to handle.
Farhan, who not for once dominated the spinners, holed out in the deep off Kuldeep as Pakistan's woes against India in multilateral events continued.&nbsp;

The Supreme Court refused to urgently hear a plea seeking cancellation of the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match, saying “match should go on” despite petition citing Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

Supreme Court Declines Urgent Hearing to Cancel India-Pakistan Match

SC Denies Urgent Request Against Cricket Match

The Supreme Court refused to urgently hear a plea seeking cancellation of the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 match, saying &ldquo;match should go on&rdquo; despite petition citing Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.

The Supreme Court on Thursday refused urgent listing of a plea seeking cancellation of the cricket match between India and Pakistan in the upcoming Asia Cup.
The matter was mentioned before a bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi by a lawyer for urgent listing.
"What is the urgency? It's a match, let it be. Match is this Sunday, what can be done? the bench observed.
When the lawyer submitted that the cricket match is scheduled on Sunday and the petition would become infructuous if the matter is not listed on Friday, the bench said, "Match is this Sunday? What can we do about that? Let it be. Match should go on." The petition filed by four law students led by Urvashi Jain said organising a cricket match with Pakistan in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor sends a message inconsistent with national dignity and public sentiment.
India and Pakistan meet on September 14 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for the 2025 Asia Cup.
"Cricket between nations is meant to show harmony and friendship. But after the Phalagam terror attack and Operation Sindoor, when our people died and our soldiers risked everything, playing with Pakistan sent the opposite message that while our soldiers sacrificing their lives, we are celebrating sports with the same country sheltering terrorists (sic)," the plea submitted.
The petitioners added, "It can also hurt the sentiments of the families of the victims who lost their lives in the hand of the Pakistani terrorist. The dignity of nation and security of citizens come before entertainment." The plea said a cricket match between the two countries was "detrimental to the national interests" and morale of the armed forces and the nation as a whole.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha stressed aggression as key ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 clash on September 14.

India & Pakistan Captains Emphasize Aggression for Asia Cup Clash

Aggression Key for India-Pakistan Asia Cup Match

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha stressed aggression as key ahead of their Asia Cup 2025 clash on September 14.

India skipper Suryakumar Yadav on Tuesday said his side will not hold back on aggression in the high-voltage Asia Cup clash against Pakistan on September 14 as it is an important aspect of playing international sport.
His Pakistani counterpart Salman Ali Agha had identical views -- no instructions but no shying away from it either. Before the Pakistan game, India will open their campaign against the UAE on Wednesday.
"Temper? Sir, aggression is always there on the field when we take the field. And without aggression, I don't think you can play this sport. And I'm sure, I'm very excited to take the field on the front foot," Suryakumar replied when asked whether players will be told to dial down the intensity in the much-awaited Sunday clash of the T20 event.
The Asia Cup match is being held in the backdrop of border tensions between India and Pakistan after 26 tourists were killed by terrorists in Pahalgam earlier this year leading to military action by India under Operation Sindoor.
Salman held a similar view on aggression but added that he wouldn't be issuing any specific instructions to his players.
"Well, you don't need to say anything to any player. Because everyone is individually very different. If someone wants to be aggressive on the field, they are more than welcome to do that.
"When it comes to fast bowlers, they are always aggressive," Salman said.
The captains' press conference and the trophy unveiling ceremony was followed by a question and answer session. The emcee requested the media to ask only apolitical questions.
In fact, Suryakumar and Salman weren't even seated together as Afghanistan skipper Rashid Khan took the place between them.
The Indian skipper was also asked if he would like to see a change in his team's approach and philosophy.
"Why are you needling me?" he cheekily retorted.
"When you play a format you need to know how good is your preparation. Why mend something that isn't broken? If something has given us results why would we need to change that aspect separately?" he said.
There was the inevitable question about who among Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma will make the cut in the playing XI on Wednesday.
Like all other skippers, Suryakumar also kept cards close to his chest but did not let go of his trademark cheeky humour while responding to the query on Samson as the scribe who threw the question at him also hailed from the keeper-batter's native state Kerala.
"I will message you the whole team sir," he laughed and then in a slightly serious tone added: "We are taking good care of him. Don't worry, we will take the right decision tomorrow." When quizzed on the pressure of being title favourites, he admitted that there is pressure of coming good.
"Who said that? (favourites) I haven't heard it. But you have played in this format and you know how your preparations are. If your preparations are good, then you will be very confident when you take the field. We are playing T20 as a team after a long time." For Salman, the challenge is to prove that the team has moved beyond Babar Azam and Muhammad Rizwan -- the two senior players who were dropped.
"We are playing very good cricket. I think for almost four months, we have won three series out of four. So we are doing very well as a team and at the same time, we are very excited.
"A lot of the boys will play Asia Cup for the first time but they are ready for the challenge," he added.

India will not engage in bilateral sports with Pakistan, but its cricket team can participate in multilateral events like the Asia Cup, the Sports Ministry clarified.

Indian cricket team cleared for Asia Cup 2025 participation

India will not engage in bilateral sports with Pakistan, but its cricket team can participate in multilateral events like the Asia Cup, the Sports Ministry clarified.

India and Pakistan won't engage in any bilateral sporting clash but the cricket team will not be stopped from playing the multi-lateral Asia Cup next month, the Sports Ministry said on Thursday.
The ministry unveiled the new policy with regard to India's international engagements with emphasis on Pakistan. Sources said it is effective immediately.
"India's approach to sports events involving Pakistan reflects its overall policy in dealing with that country," states the ministry policy.
"In so far as bilateral sports events in each other's country are concerned, Indian teams will not be participating in competitions in Pakistan. Nor will we permit Pakistani teams to play in India," it added.
However, the multilateral engagements will not be affected.
"We will not stop Indian cricket team from playing in Asia Cup as it is multilateral," the ministry source said.
"But Pakistan will not be allowed on Indian soil for bilateral competitions. But we will not stop them from multilateral events as we will abide by Olympic Charter," he added.
Asked if Indian teams will be allowed to travel to Pakistan for any multi-lateral competitions, the source said, "In that scenario, we will examine the case before deciding anything."&nbsp;
"Even in multi-lateral events, we can't leave our athletes in lurch. After all it's a country that has no hesitation in declaring that its a dumpster and can hit the shining Mercedes that is India," he added.&nbsp;

In Rawalpindi, relentless rain abandoned Pakistan versus Bangladesh match, leaving both winless in the Champions Trophy. Despite shared points, Pakistan and Bangladesh await future matches with a focus on improvements.

Pakistan ends winless Champions Trophy campaign after washout against Bangladesh

Rain in Rawalpindi abandoned Pakistan vs Bangladesh match, leaving both without wins in the Champions Trophy. With shared points, Pakistan looks forward post-criticism, controlling key player injuries, and hopes for future success.

Pakistan's match against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi was abandoned due to rain. Both teams end winless in the tournament, with Pakistan facing criticism for poor performance. Future improvements are anticipated.

Pakistan's winless campaign in the Champions Trophy continued with their match against Bangladesh being called off without a ball being bowled due to incessant rain here on Thursday.&nbsp;
The match was effectively a dead-rubber, with both teams already out of contention after failing to secure a win in their two previous matches. Pakistan, hosting an ICC tournament for the first time in 29 years, had hoped for a strong finish but ended their disastrous campaign without a victory.
Persistent downpour left the ground soaked, with covers in place and puddles forming around the field. With weather not improving, match officials called off the game nearly two hours after the scheduled start time. The gloomy weather prevented even the toss from taking place.
As a result, the two teams shared one point each, though both Pakistan and Bangladesh finished the tournament winless.
This is the second match in Rawalpindi to be called off without a ball being bowled, following the washout between South Africa and Australia earlier this week.
The rain-induced abandonment left the home fans frustrated, as they hoped for play at the Rawalpindi Cricket Stadium.
Pakistan have faced criticism for their poor showing in the tournament, having suffered defeats to New Zealand (by 60 runs) and India (by six wickets).
"We wanted to do well and perform well in front of our nation. The expectations are very high. We didn't perform well and it is disappointing for us," Pakistan captain Mohammad Rizwan said.
Reflecting on the road ahead, Rizwan said: "You can learn from your mistakes. We have made mistakes in the last few games. Hopefully, we can learn from these.
"We are next going to New Zealand and, hopefully, we can perform there and the mistakes that we did against New Zealand here in Pakistan, we can learn from that. And we will do better in New Zealand. "
'We put a lot of pressure on ourselves playing against India'
Pakistan's assistant coach, Azhar Mahmood, who hails from the city, attributed his team's poor show in the tournament to injuries to key players, and the fact that the team took too much pressure against India.
"We haven't played well in this tournament. We have played good cricket in this format, but in the tournament it has not gone well because of injuries. Against India, we put a lot of pressure on ourselves," he said.
"We know where we need to improve. It is all about adapting and taking responsibility. The results have also been a surprise for us," he added.
The former Test all-rounder said that the people need to keep faith in the players.
"We have to stick with the talent we identify for it to come good over the months," said Mahmood.
Pakistan had lost two top players -- Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub -- to injuries, affecting their campaign.
"The guy who has been performing from the last few months in Australia, South Africa, Zimbabwe... the team was combined and then suddenly when someone is injured, the team will be disturbed," added Rizwan.
"As a captain, you can look forward to that as well. One side you can say that the team is disturbed, but this is no excuse. Yes, Fakhar Zaman and Saim Ayub were injured, but we will learn from this," the captain added.
"We are all very disappointed. We are all here for the nation. Pakistan is our priority and the expectation from us is very high. We are upset and we are accepting that we didn't do well. Hopefully, we will do more hard work and comeback," added Rizwan.
Much to reflect for Bangladesh
Bangladesh, who also ended their tournament winless, will return home with much to reflect on after losing to India by six wickets and New Zealand by five wickets.
"I am very disappointed. We really wanted to play this match, but can't do anything about the weather. The way we held the game for long periods was very inspiring for us in the two matches," Bangladesh captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto said.
"We hope we can learn from our mistakes. We will make a proper plan and execute the plan." Talking about their bowling unit, Shanto said: "We have always struggled with our fast bowling unit, but in the last few years a lot of fast bowlers are coming through.
"Some of the fast bowlers back home are doing very well. The likes of Taskin, Rana coming in. Fizz is there. We have a very good bowling attack. I hope they will do the job and do the best for the team."

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