DUBAI: India and Pakistan clash again in the Asia Cup on Sunday, renewing one of cricket’s fiercest rivalries a week after their last match was overshadowed by a handshake row.
India won the September 14 group match by seven wickets in Dubai and afterwards refused to shake hands with their opponents, angering Pakistan.
It was the first meeting between the neighbors since a four-day cross-border conflict in May left more than 70 people dead.
The Pakistan Cricket Board lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council alleging that match referee Andy Pycroft had told skipper Salman Agha not to approach Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake at the toss.
The PCB demanded Pycroft be removed from their matches and threatened to withdraw from the eight-team Twenty20 competition.
Their last group game was held up for an hour before the PCB said Pycroft had apologized and the match, with the Zimbabwean in charge, eventually went ahead.
Pakistan beat hosts the United Arab Emirates to qualify for the next stage, the Super Fours, and set up another meeting with India in Dubai.
Indian media has reported that the team plans to stick to its no-handshake policy for Sunday’s clash.
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav sought to defuse the controversy.
“When you step onto the field it’s just a batter in front of you.
I have always approached it this way against Pakistan,” he said ahead of India’s last group game, against Oman on Friday.
Agha also stuck to sport.
“If we play good cricket like we have played in the last few months I think we’ll be good against any side,” the Pakistan captain told reporters.
Simmering tensions
Because of fraught political ties, nuclear-armed neighbors India and Pakistan only meet at neutral venues during
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