India didn’t shake palms with Pakistan in any of their matches at Asia Cup in Dubai final yr, together with the ultimate
India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistan reverse quantity Salman Agha didn’t shake palms on the coin toss for his or her T20 World Cup showdown in Colombo on Sunday.
Agha received the toss and elected to bowl within the Group A match, which was solely confirmed as going forward six days in the past when the Pakistan authorities made a U-turn on a risk to boycott the match.
Suryakumar additionally didn’t shake palms with Agha in any of their three matches on the Asia Cup in Dubai final yr, together with the ultimate.
The largest and most profitable conflict in world cricket was unsure after Bangladesh refused to play their T20 World Cup matches in India and had been kicked out, changed by Scotland.
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The Pakistan authorities protested and responded by ordering its staff to boycott the India sport in Sri Lanka, the match’s co-hosts.
The cricket groups of the nuclear-armed neighbours solely meet in multi-nation tournaments at impartial venues as a part of a compromise deal.
It has been greater than 18 years since India and Pakistan final met in a Take a look at match, and 13 years since both aspect crossed the border to play a bilateral collection.
The 35,000-capacity R Premadasa Stadium was bought out for the conflict, with tickets going for greater than 4 occasions face worth on the black market.
Pleasure was constructing exterior the bottom earlier than the beginning of the hotly awaited conflict.
Sri Lanka nationals Saleem Ali and Naseem Ali took a seven-hour bus experience from Trincomalee to be on the sport.
“We’re right here to assist Pakistan,” stated Saleem, 32. “I predict Pakistan will rating 180 after which get India out for 140. I desire a Sri Lanka v Pakistan remaining in Colombo.”
Indians Inderjeet Singh Satwal and Kuldeep Singh Nirh travelled from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. “India is the clear favorite, however the build-up to this match was disappointing,” Nirh stated. “Politicians have spoiled an excellent sport of cricket.”
