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Former India captain and World Cup-winning legend Kapil Dev has urged fans and commentators to exercise restraint in the lead-up to the highly anticipated India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup, warning them not to allow political tensions to overshadow the match as the excitement surrounding the high-stakes match reaches a fever pitch.
On Sunday, Team India will play Pakistan in Group A in Dubai. India will play Pakistan for the first time since the terror assault in Pahalgam in April 2025, which claimed the lives of 25 Indian Hindus.
The debate about whether India and Pakistan should play each other in the Asia Cup has heated up since the schedule was announced, especially in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack. Although there have been calls to boycott the match, Kapil Dev has emphasised that players must stay focused on the game and that the government should make policy decisions.
“Just go and win. Those whose job is to play should just focus on playing - there’s no need to say anything else. Don’t make this a big issue. The government will do its job, and the players should do theirs,” Kapil said on Thursday.
The timing of Kapil's remarks coincides with discussions about India and Pakistan's involvement in cricket matches, once again taking a political turn. Following the announcement of the Asia Cup schedule, discussions about whether the two bitter rivals should still play cricket have revived, particularly in light of the recent Pahalgam incident that further damaged diplomatic relations.
He also gave the squad credit for defeating the UAE by nine wickets on Wednesday. This Sunday's game might be the first of many Asia Cup 2025 encounters between India and Pakistan. Both teams might face off in the championship game and are anticipated to meet again in the Super 4.
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