India and Pakistan hardly ever meet, yet whenever they do the old questions return: tempers, pressure, politics. Ahead of the 14 September Asia Cup fixture in Dubai both captains made it clear they have not been asked to tone anything down.
“Temper? Aggression is always there when we take the field,” Suryakumar Yadav said. “And without aggression, I don’t think you can play this sport. I’m very excited to take the field.”
Pakistan’s Salman Agha, fresh from lifting a tri-series trophy in the UAE, was on the same page. “You don’t need to say anything to any player,” Agha said. “Everyone is different individually. If someone wants to be aggressive on the field, they are more than welcome to do that. When it comes to fast bowlers, they are always aggressive and you can’t stop them because that’s what keeps them going.” He quickly added: “From my side, there is no instruction to anyone, as long as it stays on the field.”
That will be music to the ears of fans who feel the rivalry has lost a little edge in the era of neutral-venue fixtures. Even so, both squads look different to the ones that clashed in New York last year. India are without the retired Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma; Pakistan have opted, for now, to move on from Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan. New faces mean new story-lines.
Form guide? Not straightforward. Pakistan have played ten T20Is in three months, beating West Indies in Florida, losing narrowly in Bangladesh and then taking that tri-series against Afghanistan and UAE. India, by contrast, have not played the short format since a home series against England in January. Asked whether that gap made his side favourites, Suryakumar grinned.
“Kisne bola? (Who said?)” he asked with a laugh. Told the claim was doing the rounds online, he countered: “I haven’t heard of it. But you have played in this format and you know how your preparations are. If your preparations are good, then you will be very confident when you take the field.” And if rust is a worry? “We are playing T20 as a team after a long time. But we were here three-four days back, had some good time together as a team, and we are really looking forward to this tournament.”
Agha dismissed the idea of a clear pecking order. “In T20, I don’t think anyone is favourite,” he said. “On a particular day, you just have to play good cricket. T20 is a very fast game. In one or two overs, the game can completely change.” Pakistan’s recent results do give them rhythm, he admitted, yet that is all it is: rhythm, not a guarantee. “The tri-series was always preparation for the Asia Cup. If we won it, that’s very good, but the focus was always on this tournament. We still have to come here, play good cricket, and win the Asia Cup. That’s all that matters.”
There was one slightly unfinished thought from the Pakistan skipper as the press conference wrapped up: “We are playing very good cricket. I think for almost four months, we have won three series out of fou…” The sentence drifted, and the room chuckled. Maybe the numbers will look clearer by the end of the Asia Cup.
For now, both captains appear comfortable letting their players show emotion, provided it does not cross the line into anything personal. The on-field needle – short bursts, a stare, a fist-pump – remains part of the spectacle. Everything else, they insist, should stay outside the boundary rope.
The match in Dubai starts at 6 pm local time. Tickets sold out in under an hour, the broadcasters are already practising their split screens, and, yes, social media will keep hunting for a flashpoint. The cricket, the men in charge promise, will supply enough drama on its own.
