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DUBAI: An India-Pakistan cricket match is always a blockbuster but emotions will run even higher in Sunday’s Asia Cup clash between the nuclear-armed neighbors, who engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year.
Even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war, bilateral cricket ties had been suspended. The arch-rivals now play each other only in multi-team tournaments.
Political relations have deteriorated further since the clashes, with several former Indian players urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott what will be the first meeting between the teams since the recent hostilities.
While the threat of a boycott is over, sparks may fly with India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha ruling out dialing down aggression in the much-anticipated Group A fixture.
India, the reigning 20-overs world champions, are firm favorites to retain their Asia Cup title and are determined not to let geopolitics derail their campaign.
“Once the BCCI said they are aligned with the government, we are here to play,” India’s batting coach Sitanshu Kotak told reporters on Friday.
“Once we are here to play, I think players are focused on playing cricket. I personally don’t think they have anything in mind apart from playing cricket and that’s what we focus on.”
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson also wants his team to stay focused though the significance of the match is not lost on him.
“Being part of a highly-charged event is going to be exciting,” the New Zealander said this week.
“From my perspective ... it is about keeping everybody focused on the job at hand. That will be no different.
“We know India are obviously hugely confident and rightfully so. But we are very much focused on improving as a team day-by-day and not getting ahead of ourselves.”
India appear by far the strongest side in the eight-team tournament, having reinforced themselves with the selection of pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah and top order batter Shubman Gill.
They were ruthless in their nine-wicket demolition of the United Arab Emirates, whom they routed for 57 in 13.1 overs before returning to chase down the target in 27 balls on Thursday.
Pakistan also opened their account with an easy victory against Oman but their batting has been rather inconsistent.
Pakistan are without former skippers Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan but will take heart from winning a T20 tri-series in UAE, also involving Afghanistan, before heading into the Asia Cup.
“We have been playing good cricket in the last two-three months and we just have to play good cricket,” Pakistan captain Salman said on Friday.
“If we can execute our plans for a long enough period, we are good enough to beat any team.” 

WASHINGTON: England’s Charley Hull birdied four of the last eight holes to grab a one-stroke lead over Thailand’s top-ranked Jeeno Thitikul after Saturday’s third round of the LPGA Queen City Championship.
The 29-year-old Briton fired a five-under par 67 to stand on 16-under 200 after 54 holes at TPC River’s Bend in Cincinnati, Ohio.
“I put in some good work when I was home, all the work that I could do and (I) feel relaxed,” Hull said after being home last month. “Just (have to) play like I did the last few days and go out there and have some fun.”
Jeeno fired a 68 to stand second on 201 with Japan’s Chizato Iwai and Miyu Yamashita sharing third on 202 after each shot 66.
Hull has won four times on the Ladies European Tour, most recently at Riyadh last November, and twice on the LPGA Tour, at the 2016 Tour Championship and 2022 Volunteers of America Classic.
This marks the eighth time she has led or shared the lead entering an LPGA final round, with both her tour wins coming from those tournaments.
Hull answered her second bogey of the week, at the par-three fifth, with birdies at the par-three seventh and par-four ninth holes, then added back-to-back birdies at the par-five 11th and par-three 12th, another at 15 and a final birdie at the par-five 18th.
“Just played pretty solid,” Hull said. “Just kept it going out there. Kept playing steady golf and made a nice birdie to finish.”
Hull found 10 of 14 fairways and reached 12 of 18 greens in regulation, making 27 putts on the day.
Jeeno, 22, birdied the third and fourth holes, the par-five eighth and 11th and answered a bogey at 17 with a closing birdie.
“I think I can make a birdie almost all the par-fives that I have,” Jeeno said. “I think I do have a lot of chances to make a birdie, but my putter didn’t come up today.”
World number two Nelly Korda and fellow American Yealimi Noh were in a fifth-place pack on 203 with Mary Liu of China and Bianca Pagdanganan of the Philippines.
A group on 204 included England’s Lottie Woad, Australian Gabriela Ruffels, Germany’s Olivia Cowan, South Korean Kim Sei-young and Sweden’s Maja Stark.
Thailand’s Chanettee Wannasaen, who led after the first and second rounds, fired a 75 to stand on 206.
Defending champion Lydia Ko of New Zealand was on 208 after firing a 69.