The Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena plans to protest against the scheduled India-Pakistan cricket match to be played as part of the ongoing Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai, Uddhav-led Shiv Sena Rajya Sabha MP and chief party spokesperson Sanjay Raut told media persons here on Thursday.
The highly-anticipated India versus Pakistan match organised by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), is scheduled to take place on Sunday (September 14) in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The two rivals could meet as many as three times, if they progress to the Super 4 stage and the final.
Significantly, Union Minister Amit Shah’s son Jay Shah, who is the Chairman of the board of directors of the Chairman of the International Cricket Council (ICC) since December 2024, used to be the President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is a regional administrative body for cricket in Asia, subordinate to the International Cricket Council (ICC), headed by Jay Shah.
“The Shiv Sena’s women’s wing will launch a ‘My Kumkum (Sindoor) My Country’ movement against India-Pakistan cricket matches to be played in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. Jay Shah (the son of Union Minister Amit Shah) is the supreme leader of cricket. Amit Shah teaches us patriotism. They (BJP) say we have strayed from the original ideology of the Shiv Sena. We have not strayed from the original idea. There will be a protest with the slogan ‘Sindoor ke samman mai, Shiv Sena Maidan mai’ (Shiv Sena hits the streets to honour vermillion). Women will send vermilion (sindoor) to Prime Minister Modi. Our party will protest this cricket match which is against public sentiment,” Sanjay Raut said.
“After 26 innocent people were killed in Pahalgam, we are still seeing the pain of their families. They said that Operation Sindoor is still going on and has not ended. The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister said that we will break the back of Pakistan. They also said that blood and water will not flow together. So now how can blood and cricket go together? Women will begin a ‘Sindoor Raksha Abhiyan’ and come out on the streets. This cricket match is the ultimate shamelessness and treason. My question is to the BJP, not to the government. My question is to the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, RSS and Bajrang Dal. Do you have any role in this or not?” Sanjay Raut said.
“The Shiv Sena cannot tolerate this cricket match. Balasaheb Thackeray always opposed India-Pakistan matches. When Javed Miandad visited, Balasaheb Thackeray had told him to drink tea and leave. On the one hand, when you are shedding blood in Kashmir, you come to play cricket with us? Don’t you feel ashamed? This is the question for the Bharatiya Janata Party. You talk about Hindutva and say that Operation Sindoor is not over. The pain of women who died in Pahalgam has not stopped. Even today, there is pain everywhere and you are playing a match with Pakistan,” Sanjay Raut said.
However, the BJP issued a statement attacking Sanjay Raut and calling the Shiv Sena campaign “pure hypocrisy”. “During the Lok Sabha elections, Pakistani flags were hoisted in their processions, green garlands were used and people convicted in the Mumbai bomb blasts came to campaign for the Uddhav-led Shiv Sena. Raut did not remember the country at that time, but now his patriotism has suddenly flared up over a cricket match. Raut must start a campaign called ‘My Javed My Biryani’ campaign instead of the ‘My Sindoor, My Country’ campaign,” BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban said.
“The India-Pakistan match organised by the Asian Cricket Council, is part of an international series. Indian players do not go to Pakistan to play this match. India does not invite Pakistan to play matches in India either. At such a time, Raut is talking about boycotting the match. If India does not play this match, then Pakistan will win outright. Raut wants that because he loves Pakistan’s victory more than India’s victory,” BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban said.
“Raut constantly speaks the language of Pakistan. Pakistan says that the terrorists in ‘Operation Sindoor’ are alive. Raut still does not seem to accept the fact that our Indian soldiers completely eliminated them. By echoing Pakistan’s statement, Raut is creating an atmosphere of confusion among Indians,” BJP spokesperson Navnath Ban said.