India coach reacts to Pakistan match boycott talks, reveals the 'line' they are following

TimeofIndia.com in Dubai: India’s Asia Cup clash against Pakistan has been surrounded by strong calls for a boycott in the wake of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam that killed Indian tourists. With emotions running high, the team’s support staff addressed the issue on Saturday, urging focus to remain on cricket while reiterating that they are bound by the directions of the BCCI and the Indian government.Fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate, representing the team management, admitted the sensitivity of the matter. “The players are aware of the public sentiment, and we have spoken about it within the group. But our role is to play cricket and follow government and BCCI instructions,” he told reporters on Saturday.Acknowledging the widespread debate, he added, “Sport and politics should ideally stay apart. I do understand the emotions, but we are guided by what the authorities decide. That is the line we are following.”Ten Doeschate also echoed head coach Gautam Gambhir’s core message to the squad: “Control the controllables. Gauti’s advice has been to not get distracted by what’s outside our influence, and keep our attention firmly on cricket.”

Interestingly, Gambhir had taken a far stronger stance in the immediate aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, declaring at a public event that until cross-border terrorism stops, India should have no sporting or cultural exchanges with Pakistan. “No match, no film, nothing is more valuable than the lives of Indian soldiers and citizens,” he had said then.