The India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup has ignited political debate, with Congress leaders and other opposition figures strongly criticizing the event. Imran Masood, a Congress MP, remarked that such events are common and lucrative. He stated that when India and Pakistan play, it feels like a battle between the armies of both nations, and that the government profits from the broadcast rights. Masood also brought up the Pahalgam attack, expressing concern that the government seems to have forgotten the incident, and questioned the timing of the match, given the emotional impact on families. Ajay Rai, the Uttar Pradesh Congress President, called for the Supreme Court to intervene and potentially halt the match, considering the public sentiment against it.
