The highly anticipated clash between India and Pakistan has come under fire, with fans calling for a boycott of the match on television. With tickets still unsold at the Dubai Stadium, a recent report suggests that BCCI officials might also choose not to attend the match in person.
The last time India and Pakistan faced each other was during the Champions Trophy 2025 group stage, where host Pakistan had to travel to Dubai International Stadium to face India.. In that game, ICC Chairman Jay Shah, along with BCCI representatives like Rajiv Shukla, were present in a packed stadium.
Jay Shah, Top BCCI Names to Miss Dubai Showdown
However, since the Pahalgam attack, the situation has changed. Fans are visibly outraged over what they see as BCCI’s double standards on playing Pakistan in ICC tournaments. Amid the public anger, many have chosen to support the nation over the sport, and the upcoming match is facing heavy backlash online.
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According to Inside Sports, BCCI officials are yet to arrive in Dubai, and there is speculation that none will attend. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia will skip the game as he is busy with preparations for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup.
Reports also suggest IPL chairman Arun Dhumal has opted out of attending. Among top officials, BCCI acting president Rajiv Shukla who is also part of the ACC — is the only one likely to be present for the IND vs PAK clash. Meanwhile, ICC Chairman Jay Shah is currently in the USA for a meeting and will also miss the high-voltage encounter in Dubai.
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BCCI Maintains Stand: Will Follow Government Policy on Playing Pakistan
As for the BCCI’s stance, it remains clear: the board will follow government policy, which allows India to play Pakistan only in multinational tournaments, not bilateral series.
“So far as the BCCI’s view is concerned, we have to follow whatever the central government formalises. Recently, our policy regarding India’s participation in any multinational or international tournament clearly states that there are no restrictions imposed by the central government on playing against countries not on friendly terms with India. So, India has to play all matches in any multinational tournament.” – BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told news agency ANI.
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