Mood of the Nation: Majority Oppose India-Pakistan Sporting Ties Amid Rising Tensions

The India Today–CVoter Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey reveals strong public sentiment against India continuing sporting ties with Pakistan, particularly in the wake of the terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. Nearly 69% of respondents opposed bilateral sports engagements, including cricket, while 25% supported maintaining such ties and 7% remained undecided.

The survey, conducted between 1 July and 14 August 2025, covered 54,788 respondents. Additional insights were drawn from 1,52,038 interviews from CVoter’s regular tracker, resulting in a total sample size of 2,06,826 individuals.

Former cricketers and public figures have called for India to boycott its upcoming Asia Cup match against Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 lives, mostly tourists. In response, India launched Operation Sindoor to dismantle terror infrastructure across the border.

Despite calls for withdrawal, India will participate in the Asia Cup at a neutral venue in the UAE, with the India-Pakistan clash scheduled for September 14. The two sides could potentially meet up to three times if both reach the final.

India has previously boycotted matches against Pakistan, including a semi-final in the World Championship of Legends T20 in the UK during July-August 2025. The Sports Ministry reaffirmed in August that India will not engage in bilateral sporting events with Pakistan, although participation in multilateral tournaments such as the Olympics and World Cups remains unaffected.

Bilateral cricket between the two nations has been on hold since the 2012–13 season. Since then, encounters have occurred only in multi-nation tournaments or multi-sport events. India cited security concerns while declining to travel to Pakistan for the 2023 Asia Cup and the 2025 Champions Trophy, both of which were subsequently held at neutral venues.

In hockey, Pakistan recently withdrew from the Asia Cup Hockey tournament in Rajgir, despite India being ready to host. Hockey India president Dilip Tirkey confirmed the withdrawal to ANI news agency.

Looking ahead, India’s aspirations to host the 2030 Commonwealth Games and the 2036 Olympics highlight the importance of maintaining cordial sporting relations while balancing national security concerns.