Sourav Ganguly on Asia Cup Clash: “India–Pakistan Hype No Longer Matches Reality”

• By Thetripurapost Desk, Dubai/Kolkata
• Sep 16, 2025
• 512

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly was unsparing in his assessment of Sunday’s Asia Cup encounter between India and Pakistan, saying the one-sided contest failed to hold his attention. India coasted to a seven-wicket win, extending their decade-long dominance over the arch-rivals.

“I am actually not surprised by what I saw. I stopped watching after the first 15 overs and switched to the Manchester derby between United and City,” Ganguly quipped on Monday, reflecting the lack of competitive spark in the much-hyped fixture.

Handshake Controversy Overshadows Victory

The post-match narrative, however, was dominated less by cricket and more by a diplomatic flashpoint. Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, reportedly as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) swiftly lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC), terming the act “unsporting.”

Ganguly, while steering clear of directly commenting on the controversy, reiterated the larger message:

“Terror must stop, that’s most important, all around the world, not just India and Pakistan. You’ve seen so many things happening, so that also must stop. But sports also cannot stop.”

 

When pressed on the players’ actions, he passed the ball back:

“You will have to ask Suryakumar Yadav, he has to answer. I’m too far, launching my ethnic brand. He’s also answered it… Everyone has their own side of the story.”

 

Pakistan’s Decline in Focus

On cricketing merit, the former BCCI president pulled no punches:

“Pakistan are no match. I say that with respect, it’s just because I’ve seen their team was. It’s the lack of quality in the side.”

 

For Ganguly, the traditional India–Pakistan rivalry has lost its edge.

“There is no competition… I would rather watch India play Australia, South Africa, New Zealand, England, Sri Lanka or even Afghanistan. I don’t think India and Pakistan are a contest anymore. We keep hyping it and for the last five years every hype has been shattered. It’s been one-way traffic.”