India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav once again chose not to mention Pakistan directly when asked about their upcoming encounter in the Asia Cup Super Four.
On Friday, India sealed their place at the top of Group A after a 21-run win against Oman in Dubai. The result confirmed another showdown with Pakistan this Sunday, a fixture that always carries extra weight for both teams and fans.
During the post-match presentation, presenter Sanjay Manjrekar brought up the subject of facing Pakistan again. Instead of naming the rival side, Suryakumar kept his response short and neutral: “All set for Super 4.” The four-word answer reflected a clear intent to keep the focus on India’s progress rather than their opposition.
This is not the first time tension has surfaced between the two camps. In their previous meeting, a handshake controversy dominated headlines after both captains skipped the customary gesture. Later, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube headed straight to the dressing room without interacting with their counterparts. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) took the matter to the ICC, even requesting action against match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of failing to uphold the spirit of the game.
Oman Push India to the Limit
While the headlines centered around Yadav’s response, the match itself offered plenty of drama. Chasing India’s 188, Oman gave a spirited performance before finishing on 167 for 4 in their 20 overs.
Their openers made a strong start, adding 56 runs before Jatinder Singh was dismissed for 32 off 33 balls. The momentum then shifted when Aamir Kaleem and Hammad Mirza combined for a brilliant 93-run partnership. Kaleem anchored the chase with 64 off 46 balls, striking seven fours and two sixes. Mirza matched his energy, smashing 51 off 33 deliveries with identical boundary numbers.
Just when Oman seemed poised for a famous upset, both set batters fell in quick succession, and the chase lost steam. India’s bowlers kept their nerve in the final overs, with Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, and Hardik Pandya each claiming a wicket to secure a tight but important win.
India remain unbeaten in the tournament and now turn their attention to Sunday’s highly anticipated Super Four clash—whether or not their captain chooses to call Pakistan by name.
