Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has lashed out at the Indian government and the BCCI over the upcoming India–Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup, calling it a move driven by financial interests rather than national priorities. In a series of tweets, Chaturvedi voiced her outrage especially in the light of Pahalgam attack
In her post, Chaturvedi labelled the BCCI's earnings from such matches as “cursed money,”. Taking to X she wrote, “Blockbuster Fixture: India vs Pakistan scheduled for 14 September, 2025 with potential rematches during Super Four and Final”. When money is more important than the blood of our fellow Indians and our men in uniform. Shame on GoI for being a hypocrite on Operation Sindoor. And dear BCCI- this is not just blood money that you’ll seek to earn but also cursed money.
In another tweet she added, "Name and Shame every sponsor, broadcaster, streaming app that attempts to make money out of this India Pak match, because clearly BCCI and GoI are shamelessly going ahead with this match, leaves us Indian citizens to make our voices loud and clear. I ask the @MIB_India and @GoI_MeitY to ban all the streaming apps and broadcast channels that show the India/Pak match live. Or will they buckle too?"
Her sharp criticism followed the official release of the Asia Cup schedule by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), which also opens the door for two additional India-Pakistan encounters if both teams reach the Super Four stage and the final. India and Pakistan are placed in Group A along with UAE and Oman.
Earlier on Wednesday, Chaturvedi during a debate on Operation Sindoor in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, urged Union Home Minister Amit Shah to direct the ICC Chairman, his son, Jay Shah, to cancel the upcoming India–Pakistan cricket match.
She had said,"The Minister of External Affairs said we spoke to 100 countries. I’m proud to have been part of a delegation that visited 33 countries. Home Minister, you don’t need to make calls anywhere else, just pick up the intercom, call the ICC Chairman, and tell him the India–Pakistan match won’t happen and it won’t."
She further said, "How can we tell those 26 women who got widowed after the Pahalgam attack that we want to play India-Pakistan match, we want to earn money and your family is not above money."
Asia Cup Schedule
Group Stage
9 September (Tuesday): Afghanistan vs Hong Kong
10 September (Wednesday): India vs UAE
11 September (Thursday): Bangladesh vs Hong Kong
12 September (Friday): Pakistan vs Oman
13 September (Saturday): Bangladesh vs Sri Lanka
14 September (Sunday): India vs Pakistan
15 September (Monday): Sri Lanka vs Hong Kong
16 September (Tuesday): Bangladesh vs Afghanistan
17 September (Wednesday): Pakistan vs UAE
18 September (Thursday): Sri Lanka vs Afghanistan
19 September (Friday): India vs Oman
Super 4
20 September (Saturday): Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2
21 September (Sunday): Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2
22 September (Monday): Rest Day
23 September (Tuesday): Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 2
24 September (Wednesday): Group B Qualifier 1 vs Group A Qualifier 2
25 September (Thursday): Group A Qualifier 2 vs Group B Qualifier 2
26 September (Friday): Group A Qualifier 1 vs Group B Qualifier 1
27 September (Saturday): Break Day
Final
28 September (Sunday): Final Match
