Faisal Khokar, the Asian Cricket Council media manager, usually has a hectic schedule on Asia Cup match days. But this time, he found himself at the center of attention as Bangladeshi journalists covering the tournament requested media passes for the India-Pakistan clash. Faisal, however, disappointed many.
“Dubai International Cricket Stadium’s press box only has the seating capacity for 70 people. Journalists from India and Pakistan have already booked their places,” he explained.
There was also a fuss over match tickets. Several reports suggested that Indians were boycotting the much-hyped encounter against their arch-rivals and that tickets would remain unsold. Faisal dismissed such claims as mere rumors.
On Sunday, the India-Pakistan clash in Dubai went ahead in front of a packed stadium. Yet, despite the hype, the social media attention, and the media coverage, the match turned out to be one-sided. India cruised to a dominant seven-wicket victory while chasing just 128.
Looking back at the past decade of India-Pakistan encounters in global and regional tournaments, only a handful of matches truly lived up to the hype. One standout was the 2022 T20 World Cup clash at the MCG, where Virat Kohli produced a masterclass to snatch victory. From the twists and turns to the electrifying crowd and high drama, that match had everything.
Since then, India and Pakistan have met several times on the global stage, but India has almost always come out on top. Fans tune in not only for results but for the hope of seeing high-quality cricket. However, the gulf between the two sides has widened. India’s dominance over Pakistan today is unmatched. The so-called rivalry has begun to feel more like a corporate festival, heavily marketed, promising excitement, but often delivering little more than routine.
Without the political tensions between the two countries, it is doubtful whether an India-Pakistan cricket match would draw this much global attention.
This time, the off-field narratives overshadowed the cricket. India captain Suryakumar Yadav reignited discussions around the recent Pahalgam terror attack by dedicating the victory to its victims.
“We stand with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity and want to dedicate today’s win to the armed forces,” Surya said at the post-match presentation.
Earlier, Team India also refrained from shaking hands with Pakistani players, with reports suggesting this too was linked to the Pahalgam incident. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha did not attend the post-match conference as a protest.
In response, Pakistan has threatened to pull out of their next game against UAE if match referee Andy Pycroft is not removed from the referee panel. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also leads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said in a social media statement on Monday.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup.”
If you set aside those two moments, the political undertones and Surya’s dedication, there was little else memorable about this India-Pakistan match.
