There’s hardly been a multilateral sports tournament in recent memory as steeped in warlike controversies as the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai. The exclusion of Russia from the 2024 Olympics or the 2022 FIFA World Cup could be cited as examples, but those were decisions taken quietly behind closed doors by sporting authorities. This edition of the Asia Cup, however, turned out to be a very different affair. The three matches played between India and Pakistan were filled with theatrical displays of jingoism: hand gestures mimicking crashing fighter jets, refusals to offer the customary handshakes, clashes involving the match referee and what appeared to be a proxy war between the two cricket boards.
This intensity is rooted in a long history. The two countries have fought several wars, and their cricketing ties have been deeply affected. Since the 2008 Mumbai attacks, carried out by gunmen linked to Pakistan, they have played only one bilateral series, hosted by India in 2012. Yet on the rare occasions when they did meet, the players carried themselves on the field with a degree of grace and neutrality.
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