DUBAI: India once again proved too strong for Pakistan, sealing a dominant six-wicket victory in the Asia Cup Super Four encounter at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday.
Openers Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill laid the foundation with a blistering 105-run stand inside 10 overs. Abhishek was the star of the show, smashing 74 off just 39 deliveries with six fours and five sixes in a sparkling knock. Gill provided solid support with 47 from 28 balls, ensuring India stayed ahead in a record run chase.
Pakistan struck back briefly as Faheem Ashraf bowled Gill, followed by Haris Rauf dismissing Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Abrar Ahmed removing Abhishek, reducing India to 123-3 in the 13th over. However, Tilak Varma (30* off 19) held his nerve, guiding India home alongside Hardik Pandya (7*), after Sanju Samson contributed 13 before falling to Haris.
Earlier, Pakistan had posted 171-5 after being put into bat. Sahibzada Farhan led the way with a fluent 58, hitting five boundaries and three maximums. He shared a 72-run partnership with Saim Ayub (21) following Fakhar Zaman’s quickfire 15. But once Shivam Dube (2-33) removed Farhan, India regained control with wickets at regular intervals.
Late cameos from skipper Salman Agha (17) and Faheem Ashraf (20 off 8) lifted Pakistan’s total, though sloppy Indian fielding including several dropped catches offered them some respite.
Tensions between the two teams remained evident as India once again avoided shaking hands with their rivals, echoing the controversy from their previous meeting. The Pakistan Cricket Board has already lodged a protest with the ICC over match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging he advised Agha not to approach Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake. PCB even hinted at withdrawing from the tournament if their concerns were ignored.
With political relations between the neighbors still strained, such clashes remain confined to multi-team tournaments on neutral soil. Yet, on the field, it was India who once again walked away with the bragging rights.
