Dubai (PTI): Head coach Gautam Gambhir's call to "focus on cricket" has been echoed by fielding coach Ryan ten Doeschate, who on Saturday acknowledged that boycott sentiments with regards to India's Asia Cup match against Pakistan is a sensitive issue but stressed that the team has been instructed to strictly follow the directives of the BCCI and the Indian government.

There have been widespread calls to ban any sporting ties with Pakistan following 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. Messaging is to focus on cricket," he said.

Interestingly, Gambhir himself had taken a much harder line earlier. At an ABP event in New Delhi following the Pahalgam terror attack, he had said: "My personal answer to this is absolutely no. Till all this (cross-border terrorism) doesn't stop, there should not be anything between India and Pakistan. Ultimately this is the government's decision whether we play them or not. ...No cricket match, Bollywood movie, or any other interaction is more important than the life of Indian soldiers and Indian citizens."

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Mangaluru: Barakah International School and College has once again recorded a 100% pass result in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) Class 10 examinations, with students securing high scores and a significant number of distinctions.

The results of the examinations held for the academic year 2025–26 were announced by the board on Wednesday, April 15.

Leading the batch, school topper Aysha Saleem Javeed secured 96.4 %. She was closely followed by Maryam Taybah, who scored 94.4 %, while Inas Syed and Fidha Falaq secured 92 % each. Essam Khalid Syed and Suhaim scored 90.6 %, and Maryam Mohammed Iqbal along with Fathima Farhana secured 90% each.

Notably, over 38 students achieved distinction, highlighting the collective dedication, perseverance, and hard work of the students, as well as the unwavering commitment of the teaching faculty.

The management, principal, and staff of Barakah International School expressed their heartfelt appreciation for the students’ achievements.

They also acknowledged the vital role played by parents in supporting their children’s academic journey,

Barakah International School and College, Adyar, offers education from Pre-KG to degree level.