TV
As the Men's Asia Cup 2025 Group A match between India and Pakistan approaches on Sunday at the Dubai International Stadium, Team India's assistant coach Sitanshu Kotak stated that the team's focus remains solely on performing well, with no attention given to external distractions. Amid growing boycott calls, many Indian fans are unhappy with the decision to face Pakistan, especially in light of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam and India’s retaliatory Operation Sindoor.
Social media is flooded with criticism directed at the BCCI for agreeing to play Pakistan despite strong national sentiments. Ahead of the eight-team tournament, the Indian government had clarified its policy, permitting teams to face Pakistan in multilateral events.
Following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, India launched Operation Sindoor, targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). Many had expected India to take a firmer stand in multilateral events, but those expectations were dashed once the Asia Cup schedule was announced.
India could potentially meet Pakistan three times during the tournament: in the group stage, the Super 4s, and the final, should both teams progress.
Kotak underlined the importance of concentrating on cricket rather than the surrounding controversy. “Once we are here to play, we are focused on playing cricket. I personally don’t think there is anything on my mind apart from playing cricket. That is what we are focusing on,” he told reporters in Dubai on Friday.
He further added, “For players and us, once the BCCI says and they are aligned with the government, we are here to prepare and play. It will be a competitive game. India versus Pakistan is always competitive, so we would rather focus on that.”
Earlier in the week, Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav faced heavy criticism on social media after a video of him shaking hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha during the official captain’s press conference went viral. He was also seen shaking hands with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi. After India’s match against the UAE, Suryakumar spoke about how excited his team was to face Pakistan in the Asia Cup.
Reports suggest that ticket sales for the India-Pakistan match are underwhelming, with many seats still unbooked. Several prominent social media handles in India have already announced their decision to boycott the match. Whether television ratings will soar or decline remains uncertain, given the current public sentiment in India.
