By News18
Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray on Friday lashed out at Central government for its decision to allegedly allow Pakistan鈥檚 hockey team to participate in the Hockey Asia Cup. Addressing the media, Thackeray highlighted the sensitive situation between India and Pakistan after the Pahalgam terror attack. Hockey Asia Cup are scheduled to be held in Rajgir, Bihar, from August 29 to September 7.
鈥淗ockey Asia Cup is going to be held in Bihar. The Union Ministry of Sports has given an NOC to Pakistan鈥檚 team to participate in it鈥 If no one objects to it, BCCI will soon give permission to Pakistan to participate in the Cricket Asia Cup as well,鈥 ANI quoted Thackeray as saying.
鈥淣ow, when we are fighting a country鈥檚 terror ideology, the central government wants our players to play hockey against the same Pakistan in our country, and cricket in UAE,鈥 the Sena leader added.
#WATCH | Mumbai, Maharashtra: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Aaditya Thackeray says, 鈥溾 Hockey Asia Cup is going to be held in Bihar. The Union Ministry of Sports has given an NOC to Pakistan鈥檚 team to participate in it鈥 If no one objects to it, BCCI will soon give permission to鈥 pic.twitter.com/Vq4eqaNc8a
鈥 ANI (@ANI) July 4, 2025
As per the media reports, the clearance for Pakistan to participate in the match has come from the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the visas process of the Pakistan hockey players has been initiated. However, there is no official update regarding the same.
Aaditya Thackeray took to X and questioned the government. An excerpt from his post on X reads, 鈥淲hat a shame! Can we not really hold back the temptation of ad revenues and what not till we see decisive action against terrorism by pak? Can the union government not be firm about NOT letting pak benefit from such events till terrorism is eradicated totally?鈥