From '6-0' taunt to 'gun salute': How India-Pakistan political rivalry has taken centerstage at Asia Cup 2025

Once again, cricket was not the headline. In Sunday night’s India-Pakistan match in the Asia Cup, gesturing and posturing were the highlights. It was a fairly one-sided contest otherwise. Pakistan were good in the first 10 overs of their innings. After that, they were not in it. The Indian team was overwhelmingly superior despite a terrible day on the field when they kept dropping catches.

That brings us to the next question. What happened and why? After much talk about the previous match between the teams, when no handshakes overshadowed an outstanding Indian performance with the ball, a bit of drama was expected in this match. To be fair to the Pakistani players, they were within their rights to express themselves. It’s players’ ego. That has to come out. One doesn’t play to get outplayed. You score a 50 in a pressure match, you celebrate. You shatter the stumps, you stare at the batter.

Things were different at Dubai International Stadium last night. Haris Rauf indicated ‘six’ with his fingers to the crowd in reference to Operation Sindoor and how many Indian fighter jets were allegedly shot down. Sahibzada Farhan did a ‘gun salute’ after his half-century.

There is nothing objectionable about celebrating. Players are allowed to demonstrate joy. It’s human instinct. The problem begins when some exterior motives dictate these things. A day before the match when the players were practising, their board chairman Mohsin Naqvi arrived at the nets. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has a confused stance on a lot of things. The demand for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft was the latest. Board heads usually don’t get into playing affairs so directly. Sourav Ganguly didn’t.