‘Govt will do its job, and players should do theirs’: Kapil Dev on India playing Pakistan in Asia Cup

Says 'played my cricket in Chandigarh and grew up in Chandigarh, so I am glad to see this Chandigarh Premier League happening'

By: Express News Service

September 11, 2025 07:28 PM IST

3 min read

Former cricketer Kapil Dev during the semifinal match of the Chandigarh Premier League, being organised by the UT Cricket Association, at the Sector 16 Cricket Stadium on Friday. (Express Photo)

With the Indian cricket team scoring a nine-wicket win over UAE in their opening match in the Asia Cup in UAE on Wednesday, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian team has started its campaign in the tournament in an emphatic fashion. While the Indian team will face Pakistan in a group match on Sunday in what will be the first match between the two rival nations in international cricket post-Operation Sindoor and with questions being raised about the two countries facing each other amid the hostilities, 1983 World Cup winning Indian captain Kapil Dev has urged people not to make it a ‘big issue’. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that the board is bound by the Central government’s policy, which permits participation in multi-national tournaments but restricts playing any bilateral series against Pakistan.

“It’s a good team. Good luck. They won the match handsomely. We hope the team will return with the trophy. My message to the Indian team is just go and win. Those whose job is to play should just focus on playing – there’s no need to say anything else. Don’t make this a big issue. The government will do its job, and the players should do theirs,” Dev told reporters at Sector 16 Stadium when asked about India facing Pakistan in the Asia Cup.

India is the official host of this year’s Asia Cup and with the ongoing tensions between the two countries, both the countries’ teams have refrained from playing in each other’s countries.

Dev was in Chandigarh to attend the presentations after the conclusion of the league stage of the third edition of Chandigarh Premier League. The league is seeing the participation of six teams — Altruistians, Capital Strikers, Chandigarh Kings, Dr Morepen Dazzlers, Panchkula Bashers and Talanoa Tigers — and will conclude on September 13. Dev lauded the efforts of UTCA in organising the league. “I am here to see this league and want to know about the growth of cricket in Chandigarh and how cricket in Chandigarh is progressing. That’s more important. I have played my cricket in Chandigarh and grew up in Chandigarh, so I am glad to see this Chandigarh Premier League happening,” said Dev.

UTCA president Sanjay Tandon was present along with Dev on Thursday. “Kapil Dev ji started his career from the Sector 16 Stadium and led the Indian team to the 1983 World Cup triumph apart from making other records for the Indian cricket team. It’s an honour for us to welcome him to see the league matches. The players will get motivated after spending time with him,” said Tandon.

Dev also met UT Administrator Gulab Chand Kataria along with Tandon at the Punjab Raj Bhavan.

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