Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday advised Indian players to block out the noise as the team prepares to face Pakistan again in the Asia Cup 2025. He suggested to the players, saying that, “It’s on you, what you want to listen to, what you want to have in your mind …”. The recent India-Pakistan clash on September 14 was in the headlines, as it was the first encounter after Operation Sindoor, which was further fueled by the handshake controversy.
Cut off from noise
While advising players, Yadav told Reuters that, “Close your room, switch off your phone and sleep. I think that’s the best. It’s easy to say, but sometimes it is difficult.” He added, “I feel our preparation has been really good leading into the tournament. We have also had three good games, so we are actually focusing on what we can do best.”
Further focusing on the importance of maintaining a steady pace for a win, he said, “We want to follow all the good habits that we have been doing from the last two or three games. We take it one game at a time. It doesn’t give us an edge that we have played them once and we had a good game. We have to start from scratch.”
The Indian team won the last India-Pakistan match swiftly by seven wickets, and Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian armed forces, while several of his teammates took to social media to express similar thoughts. Despite India’s triumph in their previous encounter, Suryakumar insisted past results would count for nothing when the rivals meet again in the Super Four match.
He said, “I have been very clear with all the boys. I think it’s very important if you want to do well in this tournament and going forward. We will have to shut a lot of noise from outside and take what is good for you.”
Pakistan protests and attempts to step back
Pakistan also mulled over withdrawing from the tournament to protest against Andy Pycroft, the match referee. The Pakistan team unfolded drama and delayed the time of the Pakistan-UAE match, which was originally scheduled at 8 PM but started at 9 PM.
Pakistan considered withdrawing from the tournament to protest against the match referee, who they say condoned unsportsmanlike behaviour by India, before going ahead with their match against the United Arab Emirates.
(With Reuters Inputs)