IPL franchise under fire for omitting Pakistan team logo from Asia Cup promo banner

The Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Punjab Kings has come under criticism after unveiling a promotional banner for the upcoming India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025 that notably excluded Pakistan's team logo and any mention of the country in the associated hashtag.

The much-anticipated clash between the two cricketing giants is scheduled for Sunday at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

However, the franchise’s promotional banner featured only Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav alongside India's cricket insignia, omitting any visual or textual representation of Pakistan.

The move has triggered backlash from fans and followers of the game, many of whom took to social media to express their displeasure. Critics accused Punjab Kings of making a politically charged statement and showing a lack of respect towards the Pakistan team.

Some reactions questioned the motivation behind the exclusion, with users sarcastically suggesting there was "fear in even mentioning Pakistan" ahead of the fixture. Others took a more pointed stance, saying, “Why accept defeat before the match? It’s not like the game is against an invisible team, so why the fear?”

A number of fans even invoked WWE star John Cena’s catchphrase “You Can’t See Me” to mock the absence of Pakistan’s mention, implying that the rival team had been treated as if it were invisible.

Others warned that such actions reflect poorly on those responsible and risk embarrassing the franchise on a broader stage. Controversy is not new to India-Pakistan encounters. In the second edition of the World Championship of Legends (WCL), the India Champions team opted out of both the league stage and semifinal matches against Pakistan, citing ongoing diplomatic tensions. The decision at the time reignited debate over whether sporting events should be influenced by geopolitical issues.

Calls to boycott cricketing ties with Pakistan have also been echoed by several former Indian players, who have repeatedly voiced their support for cutting bilateral cricketing relations in various public forums.