India crushes Pakistan by 61 runs in T20 World Cup. No handshakes again

New York: India kept its Twenty20 World Cup campaign on track and booked a place in the Super 8 with a commanding 61-run victory over Pakistan at a tension-filled venue on Sunday, but the fiercest rivalry in cricket remained devoid of the customary post-match courtesies. The two sides did not exchange handshakes either before the first ball was bowled or after the final wicket fell, underscoring the frosty relations that have come to define these high-stakes encounters.

The win, achieved entirely on the back of India’s performance with bat and ball, leaves Pakistan facing an uphill battle to stay alive in the tournament while India move one step closer to the knockout phase. Details of the individual contributions were not released, but the eventual margin of 61 runs underlined India’s dominance on the day.

Sunday’s fixture had been billed as the most anticipated of the group stage, and the result ensures India remain unbeaten in the section while Pakistan must now rely on other outcomes to have any chance of advancing. The teams’ decision to forgo the traditional pre- and post-match handshake will likely fuel further discussion about sporting diplomacy in one of international cricket’s most politically charged rivalries.