New Delhi, Sept 13 — The widow of a Pahalgam terror attack victim on Saturday urged Indians to boycott the Asia Cup 2025 cricket clash between India and Pakistan, accusing the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of ignoring the sentiments of families who lost loved ones in Operation Sindoor.
Aishanya Dwivedi, wife of Shubham Dwivedi who was killed in the July attack, said the board’s decision to go ahead with the fixture showed “no sentiment” toward the 26 families affected. “I cannot understand this. I urge people to boycott this. Do not go to watch this and do not switch on your TV for this,” she told reporters.
She questioned the BCCI’s decision to accept the match against Pakistan. “I think the BCCI is not sentimental towards those 26 families and the martyrs of Operation Sindoor,” she said, adding that hosting such games undermined the sacrifices of security personnel.
Targeting the Indian team as well, Dwivedi said players should take a moral stand. “What are our cricketers doing? It is said that cricketers are nationalists. It is viewed as our national game. Except for 1–2 cricket players, nobody stepped forward to say that we should boycott the match against Pakistan. The BCCI cannot make them play at gunpoint. They should take a stand for their country. But they are not doing it,” she remarked.
Raising concerns over match revenues, she said any financial gains from the contest would ultimately benefit Pakistan. “I would like to ask the sponsors and broadcasters if their nationality for those 26 families is finished? What will the revenue from the match be used for? Pakistan will use this just for terrorism. That is a terrorist nation. You will provide them revenue and prepare them to attack us once again,” she said.
The Asia Cup fixture between India and Pakistan is scheduled for September 14 in the UAE. While the Indian government has maintained a freeze on bilateral cricket with Pakistan, it continues to allow matches between the two sides in multination tournaments.
