'We can't forget Pahalgam': Virender Sehwag under fire for promoting India vs Pakistan Asia Cup clash

NEW DELHI: With just a few days left for the much-anticipated Asia Cup 2025, the tournament has already found itself at the centre of controversy. Sony Sports Network, the official broadcast partner, released a promotional video to build excitement for the event but ended up facing severe backlash from fans on social media. The trigger was their India vs Pakistan promo, which highlighted the marquee clash scheduled for September 14.The advertisement featured India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, Pakistan’s pace spearhead Shaheen Afridi, and legendary Indian batter Virender Sehwag. While the intent was to ignite anticipation ahead of the high-voltage encounter between the arch-rivals, it instead sparked outrage online. Fans strongly criticised the broadcaster for focusing on the India-Pakistan rivalry at a time of heightened emotions following the April 23 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.Several users called for a boycott of the Asia Cup altogether, while others specifically urged a boycott of Sony Sports Network. The BCCI and Sehwag also drew sharp criticism from sections of fans for their association with the promotional campaign. The anger reflects the sensitive backdrop in which the tournament is set to be played, with cricket between India and Pakistan continuing to remain a highly polarising issue.Amid the storm, the cricketing side of the Asia Cup carries significant intrigue. The 2025 edition will be India’s first major multi-nation tournament without stalwarts Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma, both of whom retired from T20Is earlier this year after guiding India to back-to-back ICC titles — the 2024 T20 World Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy. Their absence marks the beginning of a new chapter, with Suryakumar Yadav leading a youthful squad.India have been drawn in Group A, which also features Oman, hosts UAE, and arch-rivals Pakistan. Group B consists of Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, and Sri Lanka. India will kick off their campaign against UAE on September 10 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. The much-talked-about clash against Pakistan will take place on September 14 at the same venue, while their final group match against Oman is scheduled for September 19 in Abu Dhabi.