NEW DELHI: India were mentally prepared to face Pakistan in their T20 World Cup league clash, and the neighbouring nation’s recent decision to lift its boycott has only sharpened the team’s focus on cricketing matters, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate said on Monday.

Pakistan had earlier announced it would skip the February 15 encounter in Colombo, citing government directives.

However, over the weekend, the Pakistan Cricket Board informed the ICC that the team would take part in all its scheduled fixtures, ending the uncertainty surrounding the marquee contest.

Ten Doeschate made it clear that developments off the field never disrupted India’s preparation.

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“No, like I said, you know we kind of accepted that as a status quo and until we got there and they didn’t show up we were assuming we were going to play,” the former Netherlands captain told the media ahead of India’s departure for Sri Lanka.

Staying Clear of the Political Noise

The South African-born coach reiterated that the Indian dressing room has consciously stayed away from the political narrative often surrounding the India-Pakistan rivalry.

“We’re also trying to stay clear of all the politics. I’ve mentioned before about the sentiments of the country and the different politics between the two countries, but I think it’s really important for us just to focus on the cricket side of things,” he said.

Colombo Conditions and Pakistan’s Advantage

Ten Doeschate, however, acknowledged that Pakistan could enjoy a logistical advantage, having spent significant time in Colombo ahead of the fixture.

“It’s going to be a challenge going to Colombo where Pakistan have been for the last two weeks and we’re fully focused on just bringing our best game to that fixture next week,” he added.

India will face Namibia on February 12, and Ten Doeschate believes the confirmation of Pakistan’s participation will allow both sides to treat the contest strictly as a sporting battle.

With the ICC stepping in to ensure smooth coordination among stakeholders, attention now firmly shifts to the field, where another high-voltage India-Pakistan clash awaits at the T20 World Cup.

(With PTI Inputs)