"Is BCCI above country?": Aaditya Thackeray slams BCCI over cricket engagements with Pakistan

Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 12 : Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray on Tuesday criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Central government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) for continuing cricketing ties with Pakistan amid escalating tensions and threats from the neighbouring country.
Thackeray's remarks came in the backdrop of Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir reportedly threatening nuclear retaliation against India, claiming Pakistan could take down India and "half the world" in the event of an existential threat.
His remarks also follow the decision that India will play against Pakistan in the Men's Asia Cup 2025. Men's Asia Cup 2025 will be hosted in the United Arab Emirates from September 9 to 28, and the India-Pakistan match is scheduled for September 14.
The Sena UBT MLA also questioned the BJP-led Central government over their response to Munir's threats.
Speaking to reporters, the Shiv Sena UBT MLA said, "Pakistan is threatening, but what is the answer of the BJP government to that threat? The answer is that BCCI will go and play cricket with them. Why should BCCI play cricket with them? Last year, you must have seen that the top officials of BCCI were partying with Shahid Afridi and all other Pakistani cricketers."
Thackeray also referred to Bangladesh, highlighting that BCCI had hosted a test match with the country despite reports of atrocities against Hindus there.
He said, "Last year, we told that Hindus are being tortured in Bangladesh, BCCI invited the same Bangladesh and played a test match in this country. So is BCCI above the country? Is BCCI above Hindus? Is BCCI above the martyrdom of soldiers? BCCI should give us this answer..."
Earlier in the day, AIMIM MP chief Asaduddin Owaisi compared Pakistan Army Chief Asim Munir's remarks to those of a "sadakchaap aadmi," while expressing disappointment that such a nuclear threat was made from the soil of the US.
Speaking with ANI, Asaduddin Owaisi condemned the Pakistan Army Chief's statement and urged the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government to give a "political response."
"Pakistan Army Chief's words and his threats are condemnable. What's unfortunate is that this is happening from the US, which is India's strategic partner. He is speaking like a 'sadakchaap aadmi'. We believe the Modi government should give a political response like the MEA statement."
In view of Asim Munir's nuclear threat, Owaisi also pitched to increase India's defence budget, emphasising the need to stay prepared.
"We also need to understand that with the constant threat we will have from the Pakistani Army and their deep state, we will have to increase our defence budget so that we can stay prepared," Owaisi said.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday issued a strong statement in response to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff during his visit to the United States.
"Our attention has been drawn to remarks reportedly made by the Pakistani Chief of Army Staff while on a visit to the United States. Nuclear sabre-rattling is Pakistan's stock-in-trade," the MEA official spokesperson said.
The spokesperson added, "The international community can draw its own conclusions on the irresponsibility inherent in such remarks, which also reinforce the well-held doubts about the integrity of nuclear command and control in a state where the military is hand-in-glove with terrorist groups.
Munir, during his visit to the US, also stated that Islamabad will defend its water rights "at all costs" if India proceeds with dam construction on the Indus River.
Munir also repeated his anti-India rhetoric by describing Kashmir as Pakistan's "jugular vein," asserting that it is not India's internal matter but an unresolved international issue, Pakistan-based media outlet ARY News reported on Monday.
"We will wait for India to build a dam, and when they do so, we will destroy it," Munir told members of the Pakistani-American community in Tampa, Florida, according to a report published today in The Dawn.