Emotions run high as Pakistan, India come face-to-face in Dubai

An India-Pakistan cricket match is always a blockbuster but emotions will run even higher in today's Asia Cup clash between the nuclear-armed neighbours, who engaged in a four-day military conflict earlier this year.

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Even before the clashes in May, which nearly escalated into a full-blown war, bilateral cricket ties had been suspended. The arch-rivals now play each other only in multi-team tournaments.

Political relations have deteriorated further since the clashes, with several former Indian players urging the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to boycott what will be the first meeting between the teams since the recent hostilities.

While the threat of a boycott is over, sparks may fly with India captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistan counterpart Salman Agha ruling out dialling down aggression in the much-anticipated Group A fixture.