365telugu.com online news,September,30,2025:Former Indian cricket captain Kapil Dev has urged that politics should be kept separate from sports in the wake of the controversy surrounding the 2025 Asia Cup final between India and Pakistan. The drama unfolded on September 28 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium, where India secured a thrilling five-wicket victory over Pakistan. Following the match, the Indian team chose not to accept the Asia Cup trophy and medals from Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the Asian Cricket Council.
The decision led to a shortened and delayed presentation ceremony, with the Indian players celebrating their triumph on the field without the official awards. Speaking to India Today, Kapil Dev emphasized the need to focus on sports rather than politics:
“I just want to say — your responsibility, and responsibility for the entire media also we should look into the sports side rather than looking into the politics side. Yes, media has the responsibility to bring everything on the table, but as a sportsman, I would like to see that we should stick to sports. It will be much better.”
The match itself was filled with tension and dramatic twists. Pakistan’s batting collapsed from 113/1 to 146 all out, giving India a chance to chase the target. Tilak Varma played a crucial role, scoring 69 runs off 53 balls, helping India clinch their ninth Asia Cup title.
Kapil Dev also shared his thoughts on the current state of Pakistani cricket, pointing out a decline in talent compared to earlier generations. He recalled the achievements of legends such as Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, and Wasim Akram, expressing concern over the absence of similar stars in the present day.
This incident has reignited discussions about the intersection of politics and sports, with Kapil Dev and others advocating a return to the core values and spirit of the game, emphasizing that cricket should remain a celebration of talent, teamwork, and fair play.