Source : ABC NEWS
India and Pakistan have declined to shake hands before and after the most-anticipated game of the T20 World Cup, which India has easily won by 61 runs to secure its Super 8 spot.
India opener Ishan Kishan scored 77 off 40 deliveries in a match that almost did not take place after Pakistan had threatened a boycott earlier this month before reversing its decision.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands at the toss, which Pakistan won and chose to field.
India and Pakistan players had refused to shake hands at last year’s acrimonious Asia Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates, which took place amid diplomatic and military tensions between the two neighbours.
India made a competitive 7-175 on a sticky pitch at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka. In reply Pakistan was bowled out for 114 in 18 overs.
Sunday’s game was the first time the teams have met since the Asia Cup, won by India.
India comfortably beat Pakistan again to qualify for the Super 8. (Getty Images: Robert Cianflone)
In the lead-up to the match, Agha said he believed it was up to the Indian players to decide whether they would shake hands with his team before and after Sunday’s game.
Yadav, for his part, had been noncommittal.
“Why are you highlighting that?” he asked reporters on the eve of the game.
“We are here to play cricket. We will play good cricket. We will take all those calls tomorrow. We will see tomorrow.”
Pakistan’s government considered not playing the match after the ICC kicked Bangladesh out of the World Cup for refusing to play matches in India, citing security concerns.
Pakistan only agreed to play after intense discussions with the ICC.
Political and military tensions have meant the two teams have not played a bilateral series for years.
India has not travelled to Pakistan since 2008. Pakistan visited India for the 50-over World Cup in 2023 but has since played ICC tournaments at neutral venues.
India has defeated Pakistan 13 times in the 17 T20 games they have played. It now also has an impressive 8-1 record in the nine T20 World Cup matches since the first edition in 2007.
AP
