Asia Cup Squad announcement: Aaditya Thackeray criticices BCCI, says 'won’t give up opportunity to play Pak and earn'

Aaditya Thackeray

The BCCI announced the squad for the Asia Cup 2025 on Tuesday, appointing Shubman Gill as the vice-captain.

Following this announcement, Aaditya Thackeray, a leader of the Shiv Sena (UBT), criticised the BCCI, accusing the organisation of using the opportunity to play against Pakistan solely for profit.

"So, the bjp can keep telling you to “go to Pakistan”. They can send delegations to tell the world that Pakistan-based terrorists attacked India," he said in a post on X.

"BUT The @BCCI won’t give up on the opportunity to play Pak and earn," he added.

So, the bjp can keep telling you to “go to pakistan”. They can send delegations to tell the world that pak based terrorists attacked India.

BUT The @BCCI won’t give up on the opportunity to play pak and earn 💵 #FakeNationalismhttps://t.co/XKsFpVljJH — Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) August 19, 2025

On Friday, Thackeray criticised the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) regarding the India-Pakistan cricket matches in the Asia Cup. He said that, despite the Union government's efforts to inform the world that Islamabad is responsible for the Pahalgham attack, the BCCI's "greed for money" seems to take precedence over the sacrifices made by the armed forces.

He expressed disappointment that the BCCI might consider itself above the statements made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort.

Thackeray said, "After so many efforts from the Union Government and our country to convey that Pakistan is behind the Pahalgham attack, the BCCI's pursuit of profit stands above the sacrifices of the Armed Forces, the Nation, and even the Prime Minister's assertion that blood and water cannot flow together."