Desk Report:
Relations between India and Pakistan have been strained since the shooting of a tourist in Pahalgam in April this year. Political animosity has affected cricket. There has been strong criticism for placing the two arch-rivals in the same group in the Asia Cup. There have been many attempts to boycott the match.
No matter how much effort is made to cancel the India-Pakistan match, the two rivals are finally facing each other. Their match is starting in Dubai at 8:30 pm Bangladesh time. But no matter how much they talk about not mixing politics in sports, what can be done without a sense of nationalism among the fans and supporters! India in particular is not one to give up. According to a report published today in the Indian media NDTV, India is going to symbolically ‘boycott’ the Pakistan match. NDTV reported, citing sources in Dubai, that thoughts are being raised in the Indian dressing room to create slogans related to the boycott.
Not only the dressing room, fans and supporters may raise slogans that many may not expect. Indian cricketers may be seen in a ‘symbolic protest’ right after the match starts. It may be playing in black armbands, not shaking hands with Pakistani cricketers – some such incidents. The top officials of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) are also aware of the mentality of cricket lovers. Even the assistant coach of the Indian cricket team, Ryan ten Duskat, is wary of these matters. He said at a press conference in Dubai yesterday, ‘Gautir (Gautam Gambhir)’s message is very professional. Don’t worry about something that is not under our control.’
India and Pakistan are embroiled in a state of conflict after the terrorist attack in Pahelgam. The operation was named ‘Operation Sindoor’ by India. Although the ceasefire came into effect quickly, the coldness between them still prevails. Sreesanth had asked Pakistan to be thrown out of the Asia Cup. Sourav Ganguly once spoke in favor of organizing the India-Pakistan match. Another time, he said against it. Even a few days ago, an application was filed in the Supreme Court of India to cancel the match. Although the Supreme Court rejected that application.
Be it an ICC event or the Asia Cup, India is far ahead of Pakistan in recent matches. Pakistan last won against India in the Asia Cup in 2022 in Dubai. In the case of ICC events, we have to go further back. Pakistan defeated their arch-rivals by 10 wickets in the T20 World Cup in Dubai in 2021. Ramiz Raja said in an Indian media outlet, ‘To defeat India, Pakistan will have to do something that is no less than a miracle.’
In this year’s Asia Cup, the United Arab Emirates and Oman have been drawn in the India-Pakistan group. India, which is at the top of the points list in Group ‘A’ after destroying the United Arab Emirates, has a net run rate of + 10.483. Meanwhile, it started its Asia Cup campaign by defeating Oman by 93 runs. Regarding the India-Pakistan clash, Shoaib Malik said, “The match against India will be a real test for Pakistan. This match will show where world cricket is.”
There is more competition in Group B than in Group A. Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh each have 2 points. But due to the negative net run rate (-0.650), Liton’s team is third in the points list of Group B. The net run rates of Afghanistan and Sri Lanka, who are in the first two, are +4.70 and +2.595. The Bangladesh-Afghanistan match will start in Abu Dhabi at 8:30 PM Bangladesh time the day after tomorrow. For the Afghans, however, this is the second match of the group stage. Sri Lanka will play against Hong Kong tomorrow. This match will be held in Dubai. The Sri Lankans will play their last match of the group stage in Abu Dhabi on September 18.
