“Stop Using Patriotism When It Suits You”: Danish Kaneria Slams BCCI Over Asia Cup Approval

A fresh salvo from former Pakistan spinner Danish Kaneria has ignited incendiary debate across cricketing and political spheres. Kaneria accused the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) of hypocritically deploying patriotism when convenient — protesting a friendly Legends match against Pakistan in the WCL, yet readily agreeing to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025.

A Tale of Two Policies: WCL Boycott vs Asia Cup Acceptance

The WCL Incident: Indian Legends Pull Out

In July, the World Championship of Legends was set to feature a headline clash between India Champions and Pakistan Champions in Birmingham. Yet, just days before, several Indian veterans — including Yuvraj Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, and Harbhajan Singh — withdrew, citing national duty amid rising political tensions and the Pahalgam terror attack. Organisers promptly cancelled the fixture, citing backlash and sponsor unease.

Asia Cup 2025: India-Pakistan Set to Clash in Dubai

Days later, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) announced the official Asia Cup 2025 schedule — confirming India vs Pakistan on September 14 in Dubai. The BCCI, as host, gave its nod during an ACC online meeting attended by Pakistani board chief Mohsin Naqvi, binding India to the fixture.

Kaneria’s Crucial Criticism

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), Kaneria expressed his disappointment:

“Indian players boycotted WCL and called it national duty. But now Asia Cup vs Pakistan is just fine? If cricket with Pakistan is okay, then WCL should’ve been too. Stop using patriotism when it suits you. Let sport be sport — not propaganda.” ([turn0search33])

He lambasted the inconsistency — calling out what he dubbed “double‑standards” — and insisted:

“If you’re talking about patriotism, then you have to stand by it consistently.”

Institutional vs Individual: Who Controls the Narrative?

WCL Withdrawal was individual player-driven. No BCCI mandate. Players prioritized moral stance over cricket.
Asia Cup Participation, however, is an institutional obligation. The BCCI’s binding agreement via ACC makes withdrawal almost impossible given commercial and broadcast contracts.

Voices Inside India: Calls for Consistency

India’s former captain Mohammad Azharuddin echoed Kaneria’s critique:

“If you’re not playing bilateral matches, then you shouldn’t play tournaments either.”
— pointing to the inconsistency of rejecting bilateral ties while embracing Asian events.

Meanwhile, the Chandigarh Congress demanded the Indian government prevent any India-Pakistan matches at the Asia Cup, highlighting Operation Sindoor’s continuation and criticizing the use of sponsor money potentially aiding Pakistani cricket.

Veteran spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, meanwhile, refuted misinformation misattributed to him, cautioning against the spread of fake quotes on social media.

Key Issues at Play

Issue	WCL Legends Fixture	Asia Cup 2025 Match
Initiator	Players withdrew on moral grounds	BCCI/ACC formal schedule
Justification	“National duty” amid heightened tensions	Binding institutional commitment
Reversibility	Match called off & cancelled	Withdrawal now virtually impossible
Public Perception	Seen as moral stance	Accusations of opportunistic patriotism
Kaneria’s Critique	“National duty” selectively invoked	Demand for consistent principle

Larger Context: Sport, Politics, and Protocol

ICC and Neutral Venue Policy

Current ICC rules stipulate that India-Pakistan fixtures at international events must be held at neutral venues until 2027. The Asia Cup, scheduled in the UAE, aligns with that policy.

BCCI’s Position

The BCCI has repeatedly denied withdrawing or planning to withdraw from ACC events. BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia labelled such speculation “baseless.” The board emphasized no formal decision to boycott Asian tournaments like Asia Cup or Women’s Emerging Asia Cup.

Sponsor Pressure

Sponsors and broadcasters reportedly pressed the ACC and BCCI for clarity on participation and fixture logistics, warning of financial fallout from prolonged uncertainty.

Views from Pakistan Cricket Circles

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt weighed in:

“If India picks and chooses, maybe they should also boycott ICC tournaments.”
— echoing Kaneria’s assertion that principles should apply uniformly.

Pakistani fan forums ridiculed India’s inconsistency:

“India boycotts WCL Legends matches but cheers Asia Cup – they pick and choose.”
“Principles vanish when sponsor money is at risk.”
— reflecting strong skepticism over India’s double-speak.

The Road to September 14

As the countdown to the Asia Cup begins, the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai is already laden with drama both on and off the field. Fans and pundits wonder if politics, principles, or pragmatism will dominate through to the iconic Super 4s and final.

Hypocrisy or Complexity?

Kaneria’s words — “Let sport be sport, not propaganda” — strike at the heart of a growing dilemma: Can sport divorce itself from national imperatives in today’s hyper-politicised world? His critique underscores a need for clarity: is the BCCI’s decision-making pragmatic or performative? Either way, the Asia Cup match will be contested under immense scrutiny.

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