New Delhi: Amid calls for boycotting the upcoming clash against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate revealed the mood inside the Indian dressing room. Doeschate admitted the players are aware of the public sentiment, but they have been asked to remain professional and strictly follow the directions from the BCCI and the Indian government.
Doeschate also revealed India head coach Gautam Gambhir’s message to his players ahead of the high-pressure clash. Gambhir has asked the players to remain focused on the game and do their job on the field. Many have called for India to boycott all sporting ties with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year.
26 people lost their lives in the terror attack in Jammu & Kashmir’s Pahalgam, where Pakistan-linked terrorists opened fire on tourists. The Indian armed forces conducted Operation Sindoor following the attack, after which military tensions escalated between the two countries. With the bilateral ties at an all-time low, people have urged the BCCI and the Indian government not to play cricket with Pakistan.
“It’s obviously a very sensitive issue, and I’ve got no doubt that the players share the compassion and the feeling of the vast majority of the Indian public. Look, the Asia Cup was in limbo for a long period of time, and we were just waiting. We didn’t think we were going to be coming at one stage,” India’s assistant coach ten Doeschate told reporters in Dubai on Saturday.
The Dutch coach admitted the emotions and sentiments are running high among the general public, but the Indian players have been told to keep their emotions behind them when taking the field. He insisted that the team is trying its best to follow the directives from the Indian government and BCCI and will try to be as professional as they can.
“But obviously, you know what the Indian government’s stance is on it, and now the team and particularly the players, you have to put those sentiments and emotions behind you. It’s actually something we addressed in the team meeting today. So we’re aware of people’s feelings, but at the same time, we’ve got to go out and the guys get a chance to play for their country again tomorrow and they’ll be as professional and as focused as they can be given the circumstances,” he added.
Gautam Gambhir’s message to Team India
Ten Doeschate also shared head coach Gambhir’s message to his players ahead of the Pakistan game. The assistant coach revealed Gambhir has urged his players to focus on the game and be professional on the field. The message is to focus on cricket while cutting out the outside noise.
“Gauti’s message has just been sort of very professional about not worrying about things that are not in our control,” said Ten Doeschate.
“Just trying to be emotionless when approaching the cricket side of things. The guys are professional enough now. I’m sure individuals have different levels of feeling on the spectrum of where they feel the whole situation is. But the messaging has been to just focus on the cricket and try to focus on the one game tomorrow,” he added.
The India-Pakistan clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 14 will be the first meeting between the two teams post the Pahalgam terror attack in April this year. Earlier, the Indian sports ministry had clarified that India will play against Pakistan in international and multi-team tournaments, however, there will be no bilateral matches between the two countries in any sport.
The Pakistan hockey team refused to take part in the Hockey Men’s Asia Cup 2025 in India last month, citing security reasons. Pakistan are also reportedly set to boycott the Junior Hockey World Cup in Chennai later this year.