BCCI Media Manager Halts Question on India-Pakistan Asia Cup Match

MUMBAI: During a recent press briefing, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) media manager intervened to prevent a question regarding the highly anticipated India versus Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025.

The Indian team is slated to play Pakistan on September 14 during the group stage, which will be their first encounter since the T20 World Cup 2024.

The press conference, organized to reveal India’s Asia Cup team, featured chief selector Ajit Agarkar and captain Suryakumar Yadav. When a journalist inquired about the team’s strategy for the Pakistan game, the BCCI media manager quickly interjected, stating,

“Only questions about team selection are permitted.”

In related news, Suryakumar Yadav remains the captain, while Shubman Gill is back as the T20I side’s vice-captain.

Gill succeeds Axar Patel as the deputy and is also a strong candidate for an opening position, with Abhishek Sharma and Sanju Samson also competing for spots in the top order.

The middle and lower-order batting lineup includes Suryakumar, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, and Jitesh Sharma, who is expected to be the wicket-keeper if Gill and Abhishek start the innings.

India’s squad also features three all-rounders—Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya, and Shivam Dube—providing crucial balance. The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, supported by Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, and Harshit Rana, who also adds batting depth.

Notably, Yashasvi Jaiswal was not selected for the main squad but is among the five reserves, along with Prasidh Krishna, Washington Sundar, Riyan Parag, and Dhruv Jurel.

Another surprising exclusion was Shreyas Iyer, despite his impressive IPL 2025 performance where he amassed 604 runs with a strike rate of 175 and led Punjab Kings to the final.

India will kick off their Asia Cup campaign against the UAE on September 10, followed by the match against Pakistan on September 14, and will conclude the group stage against Oman on September 19.

If both teams advance, they could potentially meet again in the Super Four stage on September 21 and possibly in the final on September 28, setting the stage for up to three India-Pakistan matches in the tournament.

India Squad for Asia Cup 2025:

Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shubman Gill (VC), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson (WK), Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh

Reserves: Prasidh Krishna, Dhruv Jurel, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Riyan Parag, Washington Sundar