Dev Urges Players to Concentrate on Their Gameplay Before Asia Cup Showdown

Kapil Dev, the former captain who led India to a World Cup victory, has offered his perspective on the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup. He advised supporters and the media against exaggerating the importance of the game, highlighting that athletes should primarily concentrate on performing their best.

Since the announcement of the Asia Cup schedule, discussions have reignited concerning the appropriateness of cricket matches between India and Pakistan, given the delicate political situation between the two countries.

Speaking with journalists on Thursday, Dev encouraged players to maintain their focus on the game, especially with the Asia Cup match against the green shirts approaching.

“Simply go out there and secure the win. Those whose duty it is to play should prioritize playing; there is no requirement to express anything else. The government will handle its responsibilities, and the players should handle theirs.”

The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan occurred in 2012–13. Since then, political tensions and security concerns have stopped cricket exchanges, limiting their encounters to events organized by the ICC and ACC.

Despite India being the official host of the 17th edition of the Asia Cup, persistent tensions between the two neighboring countries have led both teams to avoid playing on each other’s home soil.

As a result, the competition is being conducted in the United Arab Emirates, with Dubai and Abu Dhabi serving as the host cities.

India commenced their title defense with a commanding nine-wicket triumph over the hosts, dismissing the UAE for 57 in just 79 balls and achieving the target in a mere 27 deliveries.

Commenting on India’s opening performance, the 66-year-old stated, “The team is performing exceptionally well and has achieved a noteworthy victory. We are hopeful that they will bring the trophy back home.”

Notably, Pakistan is scheduled to commence their campaign against Oman at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Friday, prior to their match against India on Sunday.