Ravichandran Ashwin recently addressed a viral social media post that falsely quoted him criticising the BCCI over India playing against Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup. The quote claimed that Ashwin had linked financial motives to India’s decision to participate in the match despite earlier cancelling a similar fixture in the World Championship of Legends.
According to the viral post, Ashwin said, “Small money is involved so World Championship of Legends got cancelled. But India is still playing against Pakistan in Asia Cup and BCCI hasn’t cancelled it. Because the amount of money decides the level of patriotism.”
However, Ashwin took to X (formerly Twitter) to firmly deny making this statement. He reposted the quote and responded with, “Don’t associate me with this fake news. Shame on those who trigger all this.” His clarification came as social media debates intensified over the India-Pakistan clash scheduled for September 14.
Background of the Controversy
The tension arose after the Asia Cup 2025 schedule was officially released. The tournament will be held in the UAE from September 9 to 28. India and Pakistan, arch-rivals in cricket, are grouped together, with fans looking forward to a high-stakes match. However, political tensions have made these contests controversial.
A recent incident added to the issue when the India Champions, led by Yuvraj Singh, refused to play against Pakistan Champions in the World Championship of Legends. This decision was made as a protest against the Pahalgam terror attack that occurred in April.
Prominent players like Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, and Yusuf Pathan chose to boycott the match in solidarity. This protest heightened public sensitivity, and fake quotes like the one attributed to Ashwin began to circulate widely.
Ganguly’s Perspective on Sports and Terrorism
While the public remained divided on whether cricket matches should continue between India and Pakistan, former India captain Sourav Ganguly shared his views, supporting the idea of continuing sporting events. He acknowledged the seriousness of the Pahalgam terror attack but emphasized that sports must not come to a halt.
“I’m okay with the schedule. Sport must continue. What happened in Pahalgam should never happen, but we can’t let that stop the game. Terrorism must end. India has taken a firm stand against it, it’s in the past now. Sport must go on,” Ganguly told PTI. His comments offered a balanced view between acknowledging national concerns and promoting the importance of sports as a unifying force.
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