“This Should Not Become an Emotional Matter”: Ajit Pawar Defends Asia Cup Match, Sanjay Raut Hits Back

Mumbai: A political storm has erupted in Maharashtra over the upcoming India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash, with Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut launching a sharp attack on Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. The controversy comes just days after the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed 26 lives.

Ajit Pawar, while defending the match, urged people to view it strictly from a sporting perspective. “Some opposition parties seek to make an issue out of everything, but this should not become an emotional matter,” he said, adding that every citizen has a constitutional right to express their opinion. Pawar further argued that instead of focusing on the cricket debate, opposition leaders should address more pressing concerns such as heavy rainfall, crop damage, and traffic problems.

However, Sanjay Raut strongly disagreed, slamming Pawar’s remarks as insensitive in light of the Pahalgam tragedy. He alleged that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), under the influence of the BJP and its secretary Jay Shah, was forcing reluctant players to participate in the match against Pakistan. According to Raut, many players were opposed to playing but were being pressured due to political interference.

In protest, the Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) has launched statewide demonstrations under the banner “Maje Kunku, Maza Desh” (My Vermilion, My Country), demanding the cancellation of the match.

While Pawar insisted that critics are politicising a non-issue, he also rejected allegations of vote manipulation, dismissing them as “baseless and misleading.”