Former India captain and 1983 World Cup winner Kapil Dev has shared his thoughts on the much-hyped India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash, advising fans and media not to overplay the rivalry. He emphasised that while political decisions rest with the government, the players’ responsibility is to focus solely on their game.
The debate surrounding India-Pakistan matches has once again resurfaced following the Asia Cup 2025 schedule announcement, especially after the recent Pahalgam attack, which reignited discussions on whether cricketing ties should continue amid political tension.
The BCCI has maintained its position that India will follow the government’s directive—allowing participation in multinational tournaments like the Asia Cup but continuing to avoid bilateral series with Pakistan.
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Addressing reporters on Thursday, Kapil Dev said: “Just go and win. Those whose job is to play should focus only on playing—there’s no need to make this a big issue. The government will do its job, and the players should do theirs.”
India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-13, with political and security concerns bringing a complete halt to such tours. Their face-offs are now limited to ICC and ACC tournaments, adding extra spice to every encounter.
The Asia Cup 2025 is being officially hosted by India but staged in the United Arab Emirates due to political sensitivities. Dubai and Abu Dhabi are hosting matches, ensuring both nations avoid playing on each other’s soil. India made a strong start to their campaign, registering a thumping nine-wicket victory against UAE in the opening match. The bowlers dismantled the hosts for just 57 runs before chasing down the target in only 27 balls.
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Lauding the performance, Kapil Dev added: “The team is very good and has secured an impressive victory. Hopefully, they will bring the trophy home.”
India enters the tournament as the defending champions, having won the ODI edition of the Asia Cup in 2023.
