AB de Villiers reacts to Asia Cup final controversy: Details
What's the story
South African cricket legend AB de Villiers has reacted to the controversy that marred the Asia Cup final in Dubai. The Indian team was forced to wait for over an hour to receive their winners' trophy after refusing to accept it from Asian Cricket Council Chief Mohsin Naqvi. De Villiers, while remaining neutral, expressed his disappointment at the incident and stressed on keeping politics out of sports.
Sportsmanship
Politics should stay aside: De Villiers
De Villiers said, "Team India sort of weren't happy with who was handing out the trophy. I don't feel that belongs in sport. Politics should stay aside." He added, "Sport is one thing and it should be celebrated for what it is." The South African cricket legend lamented the incident as "quite sad" but expressed hope that things would be sorted out in future.
Impact
Negative impact on players and sport
De Villiers highlighted the negative impact such incidents can have on players and the sport itself. He said, "It does put the sport, the players, the sportsmen, the cricketers in a very tough position." The cricketing legend also called out the spectacle around trophy presentation but praised India for their strong performance in recent matches. He said they are looking "really strong" ahead of upcoming tournaments.
Talent
India praised for their talent and performance
De Villiers praised India's talent and their ability to perform well in crucial moments. He said, "They look like they've got a lot of talent, and they play the big moments well." The cricketing icon's comments come as a boost for Team India as they prepare for the T20 World Cup.