Former India captain Kapil Dev sent a clear message to Suryakumar Yadav and his team ahead of India’s Group A match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025. He urged the players to focus on cricket and said they should “do their job” even as calls to boycott the game continue to rise.
Boycott Calls Rise After Pahalgam Attack
The debate began soon after the Asia Cup schedule was announced. Following the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 tourists were killed, many questioned whether India should play Pakistan.
As the match draws closer, pressure on the BCCI has intensified. Many groups and fans have demanded that India “pull the plug” on the game, citing national sentiment and safety concerns.
However, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia clarified that the match would proceed. He explained that the board is “following the Sports Ministry’s order,” which allows India to face Pakistan only in multilateral events, not bilateral series.
New Government Policy on Sporting Ties
After the Pahalgam attack, the Indian government introduced a new policy. Under this rule, India will not play bilateral matches with Pakistan. However, it still permits teams to compete against Pakistan in multilateral tournaments, such as the Asia Cup and ICC events.
Kapil Dev urged fans and commentators to avoid overreacting, saying, “The Indian players should stay focused solely on the game. They have a good team and must win.”
He added that athletes must focus on their performance and not get drawn into politics, stating, “Players should concentrate only on their performance and not get distracted by anything else. Just go and win. The government will do its job, and the players should do theirs.”
India and Pakistan May Face Each Other Three Times
Interestingly, India and Pakistan could meet three times during the tournament.
If both sides qualify for the Super 4s stage, they will clash again on September 21. Furthermore, if they finish among the top two teams, they will face off once more in the final, potentially setting up a third high-voltage encounter.
Supreme Court Rejects Urgent Hearing on PIL
Meanwhile, on Thursday, the Supreme Court refused to urgently hear a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) that sought to cancel the match. The petition argued that “cricket should not take precedence over national interests.”
However, Justices JK Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi said that holding the match as scheduled would “not harm national security.” As a result, the much-anticipated India-Pakistan showdown will go ahead, heightening excitement among fans worldwide.