India Breaks Silence on Boycott Calls Ahead of Asia Cup Clash with Pakistan

Dubai,India’s cricket team has responded to growing political calls for a boycott of their upcoming Asia Cup match against Pakistan, with batting coach Sitanshu Kotak stressing that the players remain focused solely on cricket.

The high-stakes encounter, scheduled for Sunday, will mark the first meeting between the two rivals since border tensions escalated in May this year.

Speaking to reporters at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai, Kotak said the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had aligned itself with the government’s stance on the matter. “When the BCCI said it would follow the government’s decision, our focus shifted entirely to the match. An India-Pakistan game is always an exciting contest, and that’s where the players’ attention is,” he said.

Asked whether the players had been affected by the political atmosphere following recent border clashes, Kotak replied: “The players are focused on the field. Nothing else is on their minds.”

Under India’s new policy, the country will not engage in bilateral cricket series with Pakistan but will continue to compete against them in major multilateral tournaments such as the Asia Cup and ICC events.