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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
World
Shah Meer Baloch in Islamabad and Hannah Ellis-Petersen in Delhi

‘Cricket diplomacy’ collapses as India-Pakistan hostility enters field of play

Shivam Dube and Suryakumar Yadav bump fists as they walk off the pitch. A Pakistan player watches on in the background.
India's captain, Suryakumar Yadav, right, celebrates with Shivam Dube after their win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup on Sunday. Photograph: Altaf Qadri/AP

As nationalistic rivalries go, few run as deep as India and Pakistan. But even as the neighbours fought wars against each other, carried out rival nuclear tests and conducted nightly shows of strength along their heavily militarised border, there was always one thing that brought them together: cricket.

But as the two sides came together on Sunday for a match in the Asia Cup tournament, the camaraderie that was once celebrated as cricket diplomacy had vanished.

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