The India-Pakistan rivalry added another chapter to its off-field drama at the Asia Cup Super Four clash in Dubai on Sunday evening. At the toss, toss presenter Ravi Shastri went straight to the point, asking Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha: “How is the mood inside the dressing room?” The question came in the shadow of the lingering handshake row that has dominated headlines since the group-stage encounter.
Salman, calm under the spotlight, brushed off the tension. Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!“The mood is very normal. Pitch looks to be on the slower side. Want to start well with both bat and ball. It’s a new game, new challenge. There are two changes: Hasan Nawaz and Khushdil Shah not playing,” he said, keeping the focus on cricket.India skipper Suryakumar Yadav, after winning the toss, announced his team would bowl first. “Looks a nice track and yesterday there was dew. Since the first round we’ve been thinking we’re playing a knockout tournament, so nothing changes. That wicket in Abu Dhabi was completely different. This feels quite normal, just another game,” he explained. India brought back spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and mystery spinner Varun Chakaravarthy in place of Arshdeep Singh and Harshit Rana, signalling their intent to go full strength.What stood out, however, was what didn’t happen. For the second consecutive time this Asia Cup, there was no handshake between the two skippers at the toss.With both camps already under scrutiny after the earlier clash ended in controversy, this moment ensured the spotlight would remain as much on the off-field signals as the cricketing battle itself.
