Calls to Boycott Asia Cup and Sony Sports Network Grow Amid Pahalgam Terror Attack Sensitivities
Asia Cup Promo Sparks Outrage Among Fans
Sony Sports Network, the official broadcaster of the upcoming Asia Cup, released a promotional ad featuring India captain Suryakumar Yadav, Pakistan pacer Shaheen Afridi, and cricket legend Virender Sehwag. The promo aimed to hype the highly anticipated India vs Pakistan clash on September 14.
However, this promo has sparked widespread criticism on social media, with fans and experts calling out the BCCI, Sehwag, and Sony Sports Network for insensitivity — especially in light of the tragic April 23 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians.
Boycott Calls Intensify
- Fans are demanding a boycott of the Asia Cup as a mark of protest.
- The Sony Sports Network faces backlash with calls to boycott its broadcasts.
- The BCCI and Sehwag have also been criticized for promoting the India-Pakistan match amid ongoing tensions.
Virender Sehwag’s Optimistic Take Ahead of Asia Cup
Despite the controversy, Sehwag remains hopeful about India’s performance:
“We are world champions. We just won the World Cup, T20 World Cup, and I am sure that we are the best team in the Asia Cup, and hopefully, we will win the Asia Cup,” he said in a video by Sony Sports Network.
“Sky (Suryakumar Yadav) is leading from the front and is a top T20 player. Under his captaincy, I believe we will do well.”
Asia Cup Details: India’s Schedule and Squad
- Group A Teams: India, UAE, Pakistan, Oman
- Match Dates:
- India vs UAE: September 10
- India vs Pakistan: September 14
- India vs Oman: September 19 (Abu Dhabi)
- India Squad:
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Sanju Samson, Harshit Rana, Rinku Singh
Summary
- Sony Sports Network’s promo for India-Pakistan Asia Cup match sparks outrage
- Fans call to boycott Asia Cup and Sony broadcasts after Pahalgam terror attack
- Virender Sehwag optimistic about India’s chances despite backlash
- India starts campaign on September 10 against UAE, faces Pakistan on September 14
The viral Asia Cup promo featuring Virender Sehwag and the BCCI has ignited fierce debate amid heightened sensitivities following the Pahalgam terror attack. As fans call for boycotts, the controversy underscores the delicate balance between sport and social responsibility. How the cricketing bodies respond will shape public trust in the coming days.
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