Kapil Dev sends message to Indian players after Supreme Court rejects urgent plea against India–Pakistan Asia Cup match

Indian legendary cricketer Kapil Dev asked the Indian cricket team players to focus on the sport as the Supreme Court on Thursday refused to urgently hear a petition seeking cancellation of the upcoming India vs Pakistan match in the Asia Cup 2025.

Team India will take on Pakistan in a Group A match at Dubai on Sunday. This is the first time India will be playing against Pakistan since the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack in which 25 Indians lost their lives.

SC refuses urgent listing of plea against IND-PAK match

While India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series since 2012-13, the Indian government has refused to stop the Men in Blue from playing against their neighbours in ICC and Asian Cricket Council events.

With an aim to get the match cancelled, four law students, Urvashi Jain, had filed a plea in the Supreme Court against the game. They argued that the India vs Pakistan clash was “inconsistent with national dignity and public sentiment."

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However, the bench of Justices J K Maheshwari and Vijay Bishnoi refused to urgently list the petition. “What is the urgency? It’s a match, let it be. Match is this Sunday, what can be done?" the bench said.

In the plea, the petitioners had argued that the match “can also hurt the sentiments of the families of the victims who lost their lives at the hands of the Pakistani terrorist. The dignity of nation and security of citizens come before entertainment."

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Kapil Dev asks Indian players to focus on cricket

Meanwhile, former India captain Kapil Dev has asked the Indian players to ignore the outside noise and stay focussed on the Asia Cup tournament.

“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,” Kapil said on Thursday.

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He also praised the team for its nine-wicket win over the UAE on Wednesday.

The Sunday match could just be the first of many India vs Pakistan matches in the Asia Cup 2025. Both teams are expected to meet again in the Super 4 and may also clash in the final.