PANJIM, Sept. 16 -- JOVITO LOPES

Several fans, especially from India, stayed away from watching the volatile India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash at Dubai International Stadium which saw unusually empty stands on Sunday amid boycott calls following the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. Undoubtedly, political tensions affected the attendance for this high-voltage clash.

From the past records it is seen that any India-Pakistan cricket match is always a full-house event, but the usual big hype in the Asia Cup 2025 clash between the two teams this time was missing. The unusual sight of empty seats at the stadium which has a capacity for 25,000 seats, provided evidence of lingering hostility between the two countries after the Pahalgam...