Kapil Dev Urges Focus on Sports Amid India-Pakistan Asia Cup Controversies

Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has expressed disappointment over the off-field controversies that overshadowed the India-Pakistan clashes during the 2025 Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals met three times in the tournament, with India emerging victorious in all encounters—the group stage, Super Four, and the final. However, the drama extended beyond the matches themselves, spilling into the post-final presentation ceremony.

In a surprising move, the Indian team chose not to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Instead, it was reportedly decided that the Emirates Cricket Board vice-chairman Khalid Al Zarooni would present the trophy. However, after Pakistan collected their medals, commentator Simon Doull announced that India would not be receiving the trophy. Naqvi, visibly displeased, left the stage before the presentation concluded.

Speaking to India Today, Kapil Dev urged both players and the media to separate politics from sports. “I just want to say — your responsibility, and responsibility for the entire media also, we should look into the sports side rather than looking into the politics side. Yes, media has the responsibility to bring everything on the table, but as a sportsman, I would like to see that we should stick to sports. It will be much better,” he said.

The tournament was marred by tense moments even before the final. After both India-Pakistan group stage and Super Four matches, the Indian team refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. Suryakumar Yadav also avoided shaking hands with Pakistan’s Salman Agha during the toss. Tensions further escalated due to Sahibzada Farhan’s controversial ‘gun’ celebration and Haris Rauf’s provocative gestures toward Indian fans.

Following the final, Suryakumar Yadav addressed the decision to snub Mohsin Naqvi, explaining that it was made collectively by the players on the ground.

Kapil Dev’s message serves as a reminder that sports should remain a unifying force, especially in contests as emotionally charged as India versus Pakistan. He stressed that keeping the focus on the game, rather than politics, would help preserve the spirit of cricket.