India and Pakistan are two of the biggest rivals in world cricket. Whenever they meet, the whole cricketing world stops to watch. This time, they are set to play in the Asia Cup, and the excitement is already very high. But there has also been a lot of noise around politics and tensions between the two countries.
India’s batting coach, Sitanshu Kotak, made it very clear on Friday that the team is only focusing on cricket and nothing else. He said that once the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) aligned with the government’s decision, the players only thought about the game ahead.
The Government’s Decision and BCCI’s Stand
Recently, the government announced a new policy regarding sporting ties with Pakistan. According to it, India will not play any bilateral series with Pakistan. However, India will still face them in tournaments that are organized by the ICC or other multilateral events like the Asia Cup.
The BCCI agreed to follow this policy. Once this decision was clear, the Indian team also stopped worrying about the politics outside the ground. Kotak explained that the players are concentrating only on their cricket and not on the issues happening beyond the boundary.
Tensions After the Kashmir Attack
The background to this match is sensitive. A few months ago, there was a terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, in which 26 innocent tourists were killed. After this attack, India carried out ‘Operation Sindoor,’ targeting terrorist bases across the border. Because of these events, many people in India started calling for a complete boycott of sports with Pakistan.
But as per the new policy, India is not playing Pakistan in any direct series. They are only meeting them in global events like the Asia Cup. That’s why Sunday’s clash has become even more special and important for fans from both nations.
Kotak’s Clear Message
During India’s training session at the ICC Academy ground, Sitanshu Kotak spoke to reporters. He said, “IND vs PAK is never just a match, it was always more than a cricket match it’s a fierce rivalry, It’s a mouth watering contest for both countries and for the rest of the world too.
Our focus is only on the match.” When asked if players get affected by political tensions, he replied that the players only think about their performance and the game once they step onto the field. This shows how professionals keep their focus sharp, even when there is so much happening around them.
Different Preparations by Both Teams
Both India and Pakistan have prepared for this tournament in different ways. India is trusting Suryakumar Yadav’s leadership in the shortest format, while Pakistan has made some surprising choices. They left out senior players like Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan, which has raised many questions among fans and experts. Pakistan wants to try a fresh setup in T20 cricket, but this risky move will be tested in the Asia Cup.
Conclusion
India vs Pakistan is not just another cricket match. It is always filled with emotions, excitement, and high pressure. This time, the match is happening in the middle of a tense political situation, but as coach Kotak said, the players are not thinking about that. They are only focused on playing good cricket. On Sunday, when the two teams meet, it will not just be about cricket skills but also about handling pressure and proving themselves on the big stage.