Dubai: Over the years, cricketing tradition has seen the captains posing for a photoshoot ahead of a final. Even the teams sit for an official group photo.
But when the rivals happen to be India and Pakistan, and given what transpired over the past fortnight, such conventions go out of the window at a time when tensions over Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor are yet to be forgotten.
After Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with his opposite number Salman Agha, and even the players didn’t greet each other before and after the matches on September 14 and September 21, it’s no surprise that there will be no photoshoot with the trophy prior to the third successive Sunday blockbuster.
Despite a widespread call on social media to boycott Pakistan matches, India decided to play their arch rivals, without engaging in any personal contacts or courtesies.
The handshake snub snowballed into a major controversy, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodging a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC), and demanding the removal of Andy Pycroft as match referee.
Pakistan’s demands were not met, even as Suryakumar and Pakistan pacer Haris Rauf were penalised for unacceptable behaviour. While Surya spoke mentioned the Pahalgam attack in the post-match conference after India beat Pakistan in the group league game, Rauf made provocative ‘plane coming down’ and ‘6-0’ gestures towards the Indian section of the crowd at Dubai stadium.
India let their cricket do the talking, winning both matches in the tournament against Pakistan by convincing margins.
They will be determined to make it 3-0, while Pakistan will be desperate to salvage pride in the big game that matters most.
