Asia Cup clash rekindles cricket’s fiercest rivalry post-May hostilities

Suryakumar Yadav, Iftikhar Ahmed (Pic: AFP)

If history had a rerun button, it would probably look a lot like this. India vs Pakistan. A cricket match, with the backdrop of military tension, political chest-thumping, and the eternal question, should we even be playing?

The Asia Cup is already here, and the blockbuster that everyone's pretending not to care about is set for September 14 in Dubai. India and Pakistan will face off for the first time since their most recent round of missile diplomacy back in May.

But let's not pretend this is new. It's not. Back in 1999, as soldiers exchanged fire in the mountains during the Kargil War, India and Pakistan squared off in a World Cup Super Six game. Fast forward to 2025, and little has changed, except now, it's more of drones and hashtags and less of fighter jets and faxed press statements.

This year's Asia Cup comes with all the drama, except it's not just sport anymore, it's geopolitics in national jerseys.

Harbhajan Singh, never one to mince words, called the upcoming game tone-deaf. "Blood and sweat can't co-exist," he said, slamming the decision to continue sporting ties amid ongoing border tensions.

Earlier this year, a team of Indian legends, led by Yuvraj Singh, refused to play against Pakistan in the World Championship of Legends (WCL), even forfeiting a semi-final.

Still, the show must go on. The tournament begins with Afghanistan vs Hong Kong on September 10 in Abu Dhabi, but let's not kid ourselves, everyone's waiting for India vs Pakistan.

India enter as defending champions, and with Suryakumar Yadav at the helm, the men in blue are clear favourites. Their 10-3 record against Pakistan in T20Is, plus Pakistan dropping both Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan due to form, makes this feel like a mismatch on paper, but one never knows with these fixtures.

The Asia Cup features eight teams split across two groups, with the top teams heading into a Super Four phase, with the final slated to be on September 28 in Dubai.

In the end, maybe sport isn't above politics. Maybe it's just part of it now, a shiny distraction, a soft-power play, or just another line on a long list of 'normal things' we do while not being normal at all!

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are the author's personal views, and do not represent the views of Mid-Day.