India, Sept. 24 -- India and Pakistan have faced each other twice in the ongoing Asia Cup 2025, with the potential for a third on the cards, which could be in a historic final next Sunday. India won both matches in a comprehensive fashion. But the off-field tension overshadowed both the matches. In the first game, on September 14, in the group stage, Indian players had refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the game to express solidarity with victims of the Pakistan-backed Pahalgam terror attack. In the second match, last Sunday in the Super Four stage, Pakistan players Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan displayed objectionable gestures towards Indian fans, which ignited widespread outrage.

Responding to the chants f...