India beat Pakistan to Asian Games gold

NAGOYA, Japan (AP):

Defending champions India continued their T20 dominance over archrivals Pakistan with a 19-run victory to retain the gold medal in the men’s cricket competition at the Asian Games yesterday, with players again avoiding the customary post-match handshakes.

Half-centuries from Abhishek Sharma (61) and Tilak Varma (51 not out) propelled India to a record 211-6 against Pakistan in the T20 format.

Pakistan’s batting lineup struggled against disciplined Indian bowling and was restricted to 192-6.

Hasan Nawaz, who was dropped early in his innings, played a spirited knock of 96 from 51 balls before being caught behind off the final delivery as India successfully defended their title.

It was India’s seventh consecutive T20 victory over Pakistan and the fifth straight men’s encounter between the bitter rivals in which players did not shake hands before or after the match.

Left-hander Sharma raced to a 20-ball half-century, despite 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi falling for 15. Pakistan’s Saim Ayub then mocked the youngster with a “baby in the cradle” gesture following the dismissal.

Sooryavanshi attempted a reverse sweep against Ayub but was caught by wicketkeeper Usman Khan, who juggled the ball twice before completing the catch.

Pakistan, who opted for five specialist bowlers alongside Ayub’s off-spin, surprisingly turned to part-time bowler Saad Masood in the second over. The move allowed Sharma to break free, smashing three sixes and a boundary in a 24-run over.

Pakistan were also untidy in the field. Sharma was dropped twice and should have been run out before reaching his half-century, while captain Shreyas Iyer was also handed a reprieve when Ayub failed to hold a second chance.

Sharma, whose innings included seven sixes and three fours, was stumped after scoring 61 from 28 balls. Pakistan fought back through spinner Arafat Minhas (2-25) and Abrar Ahmed (1-29) during the middle overs.

However, Varma and Shivam Dube (27) accelerated in the final three overs, adding 57 runs against Sufyan Moqim, Ayub and Ahmed Daniyal.

Although Dube was dismissed in Ahmed’s final over, Varma surged to his 21-ball half-century by taking 15 runs from the fast bowler’s last four deliveries.

Pakistan fell behind during the powerplay against Jasprit Bumrah’s pinpoint yorkers. When Maaz Sadaqat was brilliantly caught by a juggling Washington Sundar at deep fine leg, Pakistan slipped to 39-3 in the seventh over.

Nawaz kept his team in contention with an innings that featured seven sixes and five fours, but spinners Axar Patel (2-29) and Sundar (2-29) shared four wickets, while Dube finished with 2-33, including the wicket of Nawaz off the final ball.

ICC chairman Jay Shah was in attendance for the final, and Iyer did not shake hands with Pakistan captain Sahibzada Farhan at the toss. The teams also avoided handshakes after the match.

In other Asian Games events, including hockey, players from both countries exchanged embraces and handshakes after India defeated Pakistan in the semi-finals.

Cross-border tensions between India and Pakistan brought the two nations to the brink of war last year, with the acrimony also spilling over onto the cricket field.

Indian cricketers have avoided handshakes with Pakistan players and have, on more than one occasion, declined to accept trophies and medals from Pakistani officials.

India’s men’s team defeated Pakistan three times in the Asia Cup, including in the final, but Suryakumar Yadav’s side refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi and did not shake hands with Pakistan players in any of the three matches.

The Indian women’s team also declined to shake hands with Pakistan after a match at the continental championship and refused to accept the trophy from Naqvi after winning the Women’s Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.