It is tempting to think that the off-field cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is passé, a thing of the past century.
The two cricketing giants will take on each other in the Asia Cup on Sunday. If the gods smile on television moguls, this could be the first of three meetings in the tournament.
The India-Pakistan rivalry has generally been more intense in the hearts and minds of supporters than the players.
Battles have been fought on social media by fans who believe that a win on a cricket field is conclusive proof that one political system or one religion or one nation is superior to the other.
Over the years, there have been two separate games whenever the India and Pakistan teams have met.
The one on the field is a competition between two talented sets of players trying their utmost to win, bringing into the frame professional pride. Off it, the game is symbolic of something else; war minus the shooting, to use George Orwell’s memorable phrase.
The last time the teams met, at the World T20 in October 2021, Pakistan beat India by ten wickets. Indian bowler Mohammed Shami, the only Muslim man in the Indian team, was trolled mercilessly.
He had figures of 3.5-0-43-0, not unusual in a T20 game. But for those who were searching for scapegoats, Shami fit the bill.(BBC Sport)