Karnal, Sept. 14 -- Union Minister Manohar Lal defended the move to play the cricket match against Pakistan during the Asia Cup 2025 and said that the game and Operation Sindoor are two "different issues".

Speaking to reporters on Saturday, the Union Minister acknowledged the sentiment behind the game and said that it is "not fair" to oppose the India vs Pakistan match.

He said, "Both issues are different. As far as the matter between India and Pakistan (the cricket match), Operation Sindoor, and other things are concerned, nobody will say that the match will happen just by comparing them. But as far as the game is concerned, the game has sentiment, and players also worked hard for it, so it is not fair to oppose it. That's why whatever...