Former cricketer and administrator Ramiz Raja urges players, fans, analysts, and officials to restore a sense of calm and focus on the sport itself as India and Pakistan face off in the Asia Cup 2025 final this Sunday.
Across South Asia and around the globe, millions will be glued to their screens, eagerly anticipating the intense rivalry unfolding once again at Dubai International Cricket Stadium-marking their third encounter in just 15 days.
“It’s crucial to cool down the heated emotions and concentrate solely on cricket,” Raja shared with Al Jazeera ahead of the final. “This responsibility extends beyond the players and cricket boards to include fans, stakeholders, and social media voices. Given the lingering sensitivities, everyone must embrace a moment of reason.”
The Complications of Blending Politics with Cricket
The lead-up to the final has been overshadowed by incidents unrelated to the sport-ranging from disputes over handshakes, politically charged remarks, provocative gestures, to formal complaints filed with the International Cricket Council (ICC), which responded with mild penalties for both teams.
These developments followed disciplinary hearings conducted by the ICC after the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) raised concerns about players’ comments and actions during recent matches.
India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, was the first to attend a hearing at the ICC’s Dubai headquarters on Thursday. The PCB objected to his reference to “Operation Sindoor,” a military campaign launched by India in Pakistan earlier this year, made during his post-match interview after India’s seven-wicket victory on September 14.
On Friday, Pakistan’s Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf appeared before the ICC for their on-field celebrations during the second clash on September 21, where India secured a six-wicket win in the Super Fours stage.
Farhan celebrated his maiden half-century against India by mimicking a gunshot, while Rauf responded to crowd jeers with gestures symbolizing the downing of aircraft and holding up six fingers-an apparent nod to Pakistan’s claims of shooting down six Indian planes during the recent conflict.
ICC match referee Richie Richardson oversaw these hearings.
Sources indicate that Yadav and Rauf were fined 30% of their match fees, whereas Farhan received a warning. The ICC has yet to publicly disclose these sanctions, and attempts to obtain official comments have gone unanswered.
With these off-field distractions addressed, Raja emphasizes the need to redirect focus to the cricketing contest.
“The ICC’s fines likely eased the pressure on players and clarified the boundaries for conduct in the final,” he noted.
Having previously led the PCB, Raja reflected on how tensions escalated following Yadav’s remarks and the Pakistani players’ gestures-an avoidable turmoil that both sides could have prevented.
This Sunday’s final marks a historic first: India and Pakistan clashing in an Asia Cup final. Organizers, broadcasters, and sponsors have long dreamed of this moment since the tournament began 31 years ago, yet it has never materialized in 15 editions until now.
With bilateral cricket tours between these nuclear-armed neighbors still suspended, any encounter at ICC or regional events draws immense anticipation.
Refocusing on the Game
Raja, who captained Pakistan internationally, urges players to keep political tensions off the pitch.
“When politics seeps into sport, it strips cricketers of their innocence-they are not equipped to navigate political discourse,” he explained.
Having faced India 38 times between 1984 and 1997, Raja understands the pressures involved.
“Players find themselves in unfamiliar territory, unsure of how much to say or what to avoid.”
Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha projected composure ahead of the final, fielding media questions without engaging in provocative exchanges and emphasizing his focus on delivering quality cricket.
Similarly, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel, speaking on Friday, anticipated a fierce contest between bat and ball.
“We’re looking forward to a competitive battle on Sunday,” he said.
Raja concurs, urging the narrative to shift.
“The real question is whether Pakistan can elevate their performance in the final or if they will falter for a third consecutive time against India.”
India has maintained an unbeaten streak en route to the final, while Pakistan’s only losses in the tournament have come at India’s hands.
Pakistan has now suffered seven international defeats to India since their last victory in September 2022.
Despite the lopsided results, the India-Pakistan clash remains the most sought-after fixture in international cricket, a phenomenon Raja attributes largely to political tensions.
“The global fascination with this rivalry stems less from the players’ skills or the quality of cricket and more from the political undertones between the two nations,” he observed.
On Sunday, however, Raja hopes the spotlight will return to the sport itself as India and Pakistan write a new chapter in their storied and intense rivalry.
