'Gauti has asked boys to just focus on game': Ten Doeschate

There have been widespread calls to ban any sporting ties with Pakistan following the terror attack on Indian tourists in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Incidentally in a departure from convention, the Indian team management sent its junior-most coaching staff Ten Doeschate as there were apprehensions in the board corridors that had head coach Gautam Gambhir been sent questions would have been asked about his earlier stand.

“It is a very sensitive issue. Players feel the emotion and sentiments of the public. This is what we have discussed in the team meetings. Players are here to play cricket. We are following government instructions,” Ten Doeschate said. With the boycott theme trending widely among fans, he added, “Our thing is, you separate sports and politics. I understand the sentiment, but we are following directives of BCCI and government. We are going by what the government and BCCI told us. “Knowing this will happen was the most frustrating part. Gauti’s message is to not focus on things not in your control. The message is to focus on cricket,” he said.

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