India-Pakistan And The Handshake Conundrum: How A Sporting Tradition Became Part Of The Rivalry
Mumbai: The contest will begin long before the first ball is bowled. When India and Pakistan walk out for the Asian Games men's cricket final on Saturday, the customary handshake is unlikely to be part of the occasion. The absence of that sporting ritual has become an increasingly visible feature of India-Pakistan encounters. The trend began in cricket at last year's Asia Cup and has since…
India and Pakistan are set to face off in a men's cricket final at the Asian Games, with the customary pre-match handshake unlikely to take place. This marks a growing absence of that ritual in India-Pakistan cricket encounters, which has now extended to other sports such as volleyball, table tennis, and hockey. The clash is particularly significant, as it pits world champions India against a young Pakistan side, with the outcome carrying far greater weight than a standard match.
Head coach VVS Laxman and T20 captain Shreyas Iyer consider Pakistan to be the proverbial banana peel in their path to gold. For India, the victory is expected, while a loss would be seen as a major embarrassment. The team has arrived with several T20 stars, including Jasprit Bumrah, who remains a crucial asset despite the unpredictable conditions at Korogi Park.
The surface at the venue has been producing uneven bounce and considerable turn, making the spinners a key factor in the match. India will rely heavily on Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, and Ravi Bishnoi, while Pakistan has its own spin resources in Abrar Ahmed, Sufiyan Moqim, Saim Ayub, and Arafat Minhas.
The batting line-up for India is star-studded, featuring Abhishek, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Sanju Samson, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, and Shivam Dube. Pakistan's hopes hinge on captain Sahibzada Farhan and players like Saim, Hasan Nawaz, and Abdul Samad, who have shown their ability to perform under pressure.
In this high-stakes final, India enters as world champions with the stronger lineup and greater expectations. The absence of a handshake before the match has become a part of the story, adding to the drama and significance of the contest.
Written by urgent.news from Free Press Journal's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
