Excitement is building up for one of the most anticipated matches in the ongoing Asia Cup—India vs Pakistan, set to take place on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai. As always, emotions are running at an all-time high, and the stakes couldn’t be greater. Notably, when these two cricketing giants face off, it’s never just a game—it’s a clash of history and fierce competition. As the match nears, there have been growing calls in India urging a boycott of matches against Pakistan in the wake of recent cross-border conflict between both nations over the Pahalgam terror attack. Meanwhile, Indian batting coach Sitanshu Kotak has said that players are focused on playing.
“Honestly, I don't think so. Once we are here to play, I think players are focused on playing cricket. I personally don't think they have anything in mind apart from playing cricket. And that's what we focus on," Kotak said while speaking to media.
“I think 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,” he added.
India and Pakistan share one of the most storied rivalries in cricket, and due to bitter political relations between both countries, they have not played a bilateral series for years. Therefore, their matches in world events hold huge importance.