Legendary World Cup-winning captain Kapil Dev has once again taken a firm, uncompromising stance on one of the most contentious issues in cricket: the entanglement of sports with political decisions.
Speaking to India Today amidst the ongoing controversy surrounding the Asia Cup and the perpetual uncertainty over bilateral India-Pakistan cricket ties, Dev made a passionate plea for pragmatism, insisting that the game and diplomacy must operate on separate tracks. His comments reinforce a long-held belief among sports purists that political considerations unjustly deprive fans and players of essential, high-stakes contests.
The discussion, which came to a head during the scheduling debates for the recent Asia Cup tournament, centers on the Indian government’s reluctance to permit its cricket team to travel to Pakistan, necessitating a hybrid model for the tournament.
Addressing this specific dilemma, Dev was clear-eyed about where the ultimate authority lies, and asked for sports and politics to be kept separate. “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.”
Dev emphasised that, regardless of the political climate, the professional sportsman’s readiness to compete remains absolute. He believes that every player, past and present, is inherently motivated to participate in the biggest rivalries, which transcend borders and ideologies. This sentiment speaks to a fundamental idealism—the idea that the spirit of competition and the universal language of sport should serve as a bridge, or at least exist independently of, diplomatic friction. The 1983 World Cup hero argued that when political decisions directly interrupt sporting calendars, the greatest losers are not the boards, but the athletes and the millions of fans across the globe who crave to see the rivalry unfold.
His critique extends beyond just the India-Pakistan scenario, touching upon a broader philosophy for global sports governance. Kapil Dev champions a model where national sports bodies are insulated from shifting governmental policies, ensuring continuity and consistency in international fixtures. He added that while political issues are complex and vital, their complexity should not be allowed to suffocate the simple, unifying beauty of athletic endeavour.
Dev’s stature, earned through leading India to its first major global cricket title, lends substantial weight to this argument. His perspective is rooted in the experience of a career spanning eras of complex geopolitical relations, yet consistently prioritising the competitive agenda. His call is ultimately a plea to move towards a more pragmatic idealism: acknowledging the political realities but strongly urging leaders to create a protected space for sportsmanship. The decision to play or not to play should be governed by sporting criteria, not by the ebb and flow of political relations, a stance he made unequivocally clear in his interview with India Today.
