Asia Cup: Still no handshakes as India defeat Pakistan

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP):

Abhishek Sharma smacked five sixes in a 39-ball 74 as India beat Pakistan by six wickets in Super Four cricket at the Asia Cup yesterday, with still no handshakes before or after the game between the archrivals.

India are the designated hosts of the eight-nation Asia Cup, but the Twenty20 tournament is being played in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) because the India and Pakistan cricket teams don’t play on each other’s territory.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav has previously said that the Indian team was aligned with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and government instructions that players wouldn’t shake hands with Pakistan players.

Sharma’s half-century – including a six off the first ball – led India’s successful chase as vice-captain Shubman Gill hit 47 runs off 28 balls. Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson then helped finish off the chase as India scored 174-4 in 18.5 overs.

Earlier, Pakistan scored 171-5 in 20 overs. Opener Sahibzada Farhan led the way with 58 off 45 before the innings lost momentum in the middle overs.

Faheem Ashraf’s 20 not out helped Pakistan finish with a par score, but it quickly appeared to be not enough as Sharma went on the attack.

It was the second encounter at this Asia Cup between the two teams – India had beaten Pakistan in Group A a week ago by seven wickets.

HANDSHAKE DISPUTE

There was no handshake between Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Agha ahead of yesterday’s game. India won the toss and chose to bowl.

Pakistan’s midweek game against the United Arab Emirates had been delayed by an hour in the fallout over Indian players refusing to shake hands with Pakistan’s players at the toss and after their group match on September 14. Pakistan proceeded to play UAE after claiming match referee Andy Pycroft had apologised for the “miscommunication” at the game against India. Pycroft was again the ICC’s appointed match referee for yesterday’s Super Four match.

The group game was the first between the India and Pakistan cricket teams since the Pahalgam attack in April, when gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

Pakistan next play Sri Lanka in a must-win Super Four game in Abu Dhabi tomorrow.

India will face Bangladesh in Dubai on Wednesday.