TENSION BETWEEN INDIA AND PAKISTAN

By Anshika Khera

India is ready to take on Pakistan again in a high-pressure super 4 clash of the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday.  Skipper Suryakumar Yadav will rely a lot on his three spinners for the intense match. India–Pakistan matches have always had tense build-ups, but this time the “tension” feels even stronger. It started last Sunday, when Suryakumar and his team chose not to shake hands with the Pakistan players, which created a big controversy.

It is understood that the Indian team will maintain the policy against the neighbours this Sunday too and even handshakes might not be the order of the day as even Pakistani players and their supporters look at the game as a ‘grudge match’.

Sundays are not always the most relaxed days and skipper Suryakumar, who anchored India’s chase in their seven-wicket win in the previous one, would vouch for it.

In this tournament, Suryakumar is expected to be an all rounder – a tactical genius , the best batter and also be an ambassador for his country. On Sunday though, we will get to see Jasprit Bumrah, whose mere presence lifts the spirit of his teammates in the playing eleven alongside Varun Chakravarthy. Both were rested in the inconsequential last game.