Pakistan, India players ignore each other during Asia Cup training

No pleasantries were reportedly exchanged between members of both sides

Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi stretches during a training session at the Khan Shaheb Osman Ali Stadium in Fatullah on February 26, 2016. PHOTO: AFP

Both Pakistan and India trained adjacent to each other inside the main stadium at the Khan Saheb Osman Ali Stadium between on Friday. However, during the entire two-and-a-half-hour training session, no pleasantries were exchanged between members of both sides.

The management had set up four nets on the four centre strips of the main stadium. In the first two nets, Indian batsmen practiced whereas the Pakistani players used the next two nets.

In the past, players used to mingle with each other in training sessions, for example Wasim Akram exchanging a quick hello with Sachin Tendulkar or Mohammad Azharuddin.

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It is unknown whether this was due to the ensuing tension of the match or due to the recently aborted Pak-India series.

However, skipper Shahid Afridi spoke about how politics and cricket should not be mixed.

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“Sports can always develop good relationship between countries. I think the Pakistani people want to see the Indians in Pakistan and vice-versa. We should not try to paint sporting activities in political colours. Our government always took the first step in this regard,” the Pakistan captain said.

This article originally appeared on IBNLive.
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