“For BCCI, the Country Comes First, Cricket Comes Later”: Arun Dhumal
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Arun Dhumal, Chairman of the IPL Governing Council, praised the Indian team for winning the Asia Cup 2025. He also reiterated that India will not play bilateral series with Pakistan in the future. Dhumal clearly stated that for the BCCI, the country comes first, and cricket comes after.
Speaking to IANS, Dhumal said, “It is the government’s decision that India will not play bilateral series with Pakistan. We welcome this decision. BCCI will follow the government’s stance. For BCCI, the nation is first, cricket comes later.”
He added, “I believe India-Pakistan matches have been given too much importance. That kind of competition doesn’t exist anymore. If you ask any Indian to name 24 Pakistani players, they might not remember. Names like Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, and Shoaib Akhtar still come to mind, but such players are no longer around. I think we have better competition against teams like England, New Zealand, and Australia. Pakistan is our neighboring country, and due to tensions in bilateral relations, India-Pakistan matches are given undue priority. We are fully capable of defeating the world’s best teams.”
Regarding the behaviour of Pakistani players, Dhumal said, “Many things happened that shouldn’t have, but we shouldn’t dwell on them now. We congratulate the Indian team for their outstanding performance.”
He praised the Indian team: “Reaching the top is easy, but staying at the top is very difficult. India is the number one team. I congratulate the Indian team for winning all matches throughout the tournament. Kudos to captain Suryakumar Yadav and all team members who demonstrated they are the best in the world.”
Dhumal also lauded Tilak Varma’s unbeaten 69-run innings in the final: “The final was extremely close. Tilak played a brilliant innings and formed excellent partnerships. Our bowlers also performed outstandingly.”
Prime Minister Modi congratulated the team on the victory. Dhumal said, “The Prime Minister’s wishes truly motivate the team. He is one of the most popular leaders in the world.”
He also praised Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy: “Leadership of this calibre leaves a mark worldwide and inspires citizens. Considering the way he led the team, faced challenges, and performed consistently, I congratulate him wholeheartedly.”
With the Women’s World Cup starting from September 30, Dhumal expressed confidence in India’s women’s team: “In recent years, the women’s team has performed well but narrowly missed ICC trophies. This time, with their preparation, I believe the Indian team will perform excellently and win the World Cup.”