Full Breakdown
India and Pakistan Face Off in Asian Games Cricket Gold Match Amid Ongoing Handshake Standoff
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The Final Showdown
India and Pakistan will meet in the men’s T20 cricket gold-medal match at the Asian Games in Nagoya on Saturday. Both sides entered the final after decisive semifinal victories: India posted 169-7 against a second-string Sri Lankan side, while Pakistan chased down Bangladesh’s 111-7 in a rain-shortened 13-over game. The final will be played at the modest Korogi Athletic Park Stadium, a former baseball field now fitted with temporary stands for about 2,000 spectators.
Political Tension and the Handshake Question
The encounter comes against a backdrop of heightened diplomatic strain between the nuclear-armed neighbours. In recent tournaments, players from the two countries have consistently refused the customary pre- and post-match handshakes, a practice that began after political clashes spilled onto the pitch last year. The Asian Games final is expected to be another instance where the handshake tradition is omitted, underscoring how sport is intertwined with broader bilateral friction.
Key Match Figures
- India’s batting: Ishan Kishan’s unbeaten 80 off 46 balls anchored the innings; 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi added 38 (six fours, two sixes).
- Sri Lanka’s collapse: All out for 45 in 9.5 overs; top three batters dismissed without scoring. Jasprit Bumrah took 2-7 in his opening over, while spinners Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Abhishek Sharma shared five wickets.
- Pakistan’s chase: Abdul Samad contributed an unbeaten 30 off 15 balls; Sufyan Moqim claimed 3-26. Pakistan reached 112-4 in 11.3 overs to win with nine balls remaining.
- Bangladesh’s effort: Towhid Hridoy scored 42 off 25 balls, but the team fell to 111-7 in the shortened innings.
Official Statements & Responses
Pakistan’s Saim Ayub, who scored 21 of his side’s 112-4 total, emphasized the team’s focus on the result: “All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against.” “All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against,” — Thursday. Pakistan The Indian camp has not issued a formal comment on the handshake issue, but the pattern of refusal has been noted by multiple outlets, citing previous incidents where Indian players declined to accept trophies from Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Verbatim Quotes
- “All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against,” “All we care about is winning the final, no matter who we are playing against,” — Thursday. Pakistan
What’s Next
The gold-medal match is slated for Saturday at Korogi Athletic Park. No official handshake ceremony has been announced, and the teams are expected to maintain the current protocol of avoiding post-match handshakes. The outcome will determine which nation adds another Asian Games cricket title to its tally, while the ongoing diplomatic backdrop ensures the match will attract attention far beyond the sport itself.