Following India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final, Aaditya Thackeray, MLA from Shiv Sena (UBT), criticized the Indian cricket team’s decision to play against Pakistan. He stated that the match should not have occurred since Pakistan had previously boycotted the Hockey Asia Cup held in Bihar.
In his remarks, Thackeray emphasized, “Shaking hands, not shaking hands, taking the trophy, not taking it, all this is a drama. First of all, we should not have played. Pakistan boycotted the Hockey Asia Cup in Bihar. Could we not have boycotted this? This whole Operation Sindoor happened because our Indian citizens were killed in Pahalgam. BJP also says that they were killed because they were Hindus.”
Thackeray further remarked on the inconsistency of government actions, citing last year’s claims regarding the oppression of Hindus in Bangladesh. He noted that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) facilitated a bilateral series with Bangladesh while the Indian government provided aid to the country. He questioned the decision to play against Pakistan after the recent attacks in Pahalgam, asking, “What’s this? And will the BJP teach us patriotism?”
Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut also condemned the BJP and the Indian cricket team for their participation in the match against Pakistan. Raut highlighted a video in which Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav is seen shaking hands with Mohsin Naqvi, the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board, prior to the tournament. He stated, “I don’t know about the BJP’s fake patriots and devotees, but the actual patriots did not watch the match yesterday. You did not take the trophy from the PCB chief Naqvi, but I shared a video which shows the Indian captain shaking hands with them, having tea, and clicking pictures. Do you think the public is a fool?”
Moreover, Raut characterized the match between India and Pakistan as disrespectful to the Indian Army and to those who lost their lives during the Pahalgam terror attack. He posed critical questions, saying, “Our question is, why are you playing with Pakistan? You should not insult the soldiers who martyred and the people who died in Pahalgam. If you played, then stop this drama.”
Earlier on Monday, Raut took to social media to describe post-match activities as a “nationalist drama.” He remarked, “Just 15 days ago, at the start of the series, they were shaking hands and smiling for photos with Pakistan’s minister Mohsin Naqvi. And now? Full-on nationalist drama for the cameras! If patriotism was truly in your blood, you wouldn’t have even stepped on the field with Pakistan. Top to bottom — pure theatre. Public being played (with).”
Additionally, Atul Londhe Patil, the Maharashtra Congress chief spokesperson, challenged Union Minister Amit Shah, questioning why the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC)—his son, Jay Shah—did not work to prevent Pakistan’s participation in the tournament. Patil said, “It is good, but we want to ask, has ‘Operation Sindoor’ ended? If the game was being played to normalize relations, it would be understandable, but how can it take place mid-operation? Is this happening for money? Amit Shah says this is organized by ICC, then why can’t ICC, with his son’s presidency, oust Pakistan?”
