India and Pakistan meet again in the Asia Cup on Sunday, rekindling one of cricket’s most vicious rivalries a week after their previous encounter was marred by a handshake controversy.
India defeated the September 14 group match seven wickets in Dubai and subsequently declined to shake hands with their opponents, infuriating Pakistan.
It was the first encounter between the neighbors after a four-day transborder conflict in May killed over 70 individuals.
The Pakistan Cricket Board complained to the International Cricket Council that match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed skipper Salman Agha against shaking hands with Indian counterpart Suryakumar Yadav during the toss.
The PCB called for Pycroft to be excluded from their games and had threatened to pull out of the eight-team Twenty20 tournament.
Their final group match was delayed for an hour before the PCB informed that Pycroft had apologized and the match, with the Zimbabwean umpire, finally took place.
Pakistan defeated host country the United Arab Emirates to advance to the next phase, the Super Fours, and arranged another encounter with India in Dubai.
Read More: India retain nerves to defeat lively Oman in last group game
Indian media cited that the team is likely to maintain its no-handshake tradition for Sunday’s match.
India spinner Kuldeep Yadav tried to diffuse the row.
When you get on the field, there is just a batter in front of you. I have always done it this way against Pakistan,” he added before India’s final group match, against Oman on Friday.
Agha did the same.
“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 skipper told the media.
India and Pakistan cross paths again at Asia Cup amid handshake row
Due to tense political relations, nuclear-capable neighbors India and Pakistan only cross paths at neutral sites during multi-team competitions.
Hostility increased in the build-up to the Asia Cup after the two nations fought their worst since 1999.
May hostilities killed over 70 individuals in exchanges of missiles, drones, and artillery, hostility before a cease fire.
The feud was sparked by an April assault on civilians in Pahalgam in Indian-held Kashmir that New Delhi blamed on Pakistan, a charge denied by Islamabad.
India fought off demands to boycott the opening Pakistan match.
A possible third India-Pakistan clash hangs over the pair if they both qualify for the September 28 final in Dubai.
India won the Asia Cup in its previous, 50-over incarnation and are favorite to hold onto the title.
India and Pakistan moved into the next round from Group A and Sri Lanka and Bangladesh from Group B.
Sri Lanka play Bangladesh on Saturday in the opening Super Fours match.
