Legendary Indian cricketer and World Cup–winning captain Kapil Dev has appealed for restraint and a return to sportsmanship following a series of controversies that overshadowed the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025.
The tournament, which concluded with India defeating Pakistan in the final at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, was marred by incidents ranging from handshake refusals to India’s decision to decline the Asia Cup trophy handover from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.
Speaking on India Today, Kapil Dev said it was important for players not to let political tensions dictate the spirit of the game.
“Shaking hands is not a big thing. You didn’t shake hands; it does not matter. You have also announced that you don’t want to take the trophy from that man. That’s also fine. But you can’t linger on for this type of thing. You have to finish, you have to move on. Let the government do that job, let the politician do that job.”
Kapil, who captained India to its first-ever World Cup victory in 1983, emphasized that while national pride is natural, athletes must uphold the values of cricket.
Media’s Role
The former skipper also called on the media to avoid fueling political narratives around the sport:
“Yes, the media has the responsibility to bring everything to the table, but as a sportsman, I would like to see that we stick to sports. It will be much better.”
A Tournament Overshadowed
This year’s Asia Cup was marked by repeated tensions between the two sides. Captains from India and Pakistan refused customary handshakes in three encounters, and the final ended with no traditional trophy presentation after the Indian team declined to receive it. Reports suggest the decision was made under direction from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
Kapil Dev concluded by urging both teams to resolve issues swiftly and preserve cricket’s spirit:
“As players, we should move on. It is the responsibility of governments to handle politics. Our responsibility is to keep cricket above it.”