India beat Pakistan by six wickets in their Asia Cup Super Four clash on Sunday, but the cricketing contest once again ended without the customary handshake, deepening a row that has overshadowed the tournament.
The refusal by India's players to acknowledge their rivals — repeated from the group stage — dominated attention almost as much as Abhishek Sharma's blistering 74 that powered the chase of 172 at the Dubai International Stadium.
Put in to bat, Pakistan made 171-5, but India's response was swift and aggressive. Openers Abhishek and Shubman Gill stormed to 101 without loss in just nine overs, unsettling Pakistan's pace attack led by Shaheen Shah Afridi.
The two traded fierce glances after Gill struck Afridi for a boundary, underlining the tension between the sides. Abhishek also had words with Haris Rauf before eventually falling to Abrar Ahmed's leg spin after hitting six fours and five sixes in his 35-ball stay.
Gill compiled a steady 47 before being bowled by Faheem Ashraf, while skipper Suryakumar Yadav was dismissed for a duck by Rauf in the same spell. But Tilak Varma's unbeaten 30 off 19 balls finished the job, sealing victory with a six and a four and leaving seven balls unused.
"Today was pretty simple, the way they were coming out to us without any reason, I did not like it at all," Abhishek said after being named player of the match. "That's why I went after them. I wanted to deliver for the team."
Earlier, Pakistan's Sahibzada Farhan top-scored with 58, striking five fours and three sixes in a 45-ball knock. He shared a 72-run partnership with Saim Ayub (21) after Fakhar Zaman had blazed 15 off nine balls before edging behind.
Farhan brought up his half-century with a six and celebrated by mimicking a gun with his bat – but his dismissal to Shivam Dube triggered a wobble. From 115-4, Pakistan needed late cameos from captain Salman Agha (17) and Ashraf (20 off eight) to push the total beyond 170.
Dube was India's most effective bowler with 2-33, though India's fielding display was forgettable, marred by four dropped catches.
India's players left the field immediately after victory, while Pakistan's squad shook hands amongst themselves. The gesture — or lack of it — reignited controversy after a similar incident in the group match, their first meeting since a four-day border conflict in May killed more than 70 people.
At Sunday's toss too, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav pointedly avoided shaking hands with Agha.
The Pakistan Cricket Board has already lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council against match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of instructing Agha not to approach Suryakumar in their first encounter. Despite Pakistan's demand for his removal, Pycroft remained in charge for the Super Four contest.
India, unbeaten so far, have positioned themselves strongly for the 28 September final. "Since first round we were thinking we're playing a knockout tournament, nothing changes," Suryakumar said.
Pakistan, who finished second in their group, downplayed the off-field row. "We are yet to play a perfect game, but we are getting there," Agha said. "A great game but in the powerplay they took the game away from us."
Sri Lanka and Bangladesh complete the Super Four line-up, with the top two teams progressing to the final. Because of political tensions, India and Pakistan only meet in multi-nation tournaments and always on neutral ground. On Sunday, it was not just runs and wickets but gestures — withheld rather than exchanged — that kept the rivalry simmering.
COMMENTS
Comments are moderated and generally will be posted if they are on-topic and not abusive.
For more information, please see our Comments FAQ