Former Cricketer Urges India and Pakistan to Prioritize Cricket Amidst Rising Political Tensions Before Clash

Former England spinner Monty Panesar has expressed concern that the recent 'no handshake row' between India and Pakistan has diminished the excitement surrounding their Asia Cup Super 4 match, emphasizing that both teams should focus more on cricket than other matters amid strained political relations following the Pahalgam terrorist attack in May.The first match between the teams saw both sides deliberately avoiding the customary post-match handshake, departing without the usual display of sportsmanship. Pakistan captain Salman Agha subsequently skipped the post-match presentation ceremony."The hype around the India vs Pakistan game is a little less this time. Now, one of the reasons is the recent handshake row. It has affected the buzz. All the other cricket boards also don't want this, they want this to be a gentleman's game. Pakistan and India should pay more attention to cricket and less to other things," Panesar told IANS.The political tensions between the neighboring nations have intensified following their military confrontation in May after the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which resulted in 26 civilian casualties.Panesar, who regularly follows India-Pakistan cricket matches, shared his prediction for the upcoming clash. "India's status is very strong right now. Pakistan is such a team that when it plays against India, they can do 20-30 per cent better, so Pakistan will have to play very well, they should play in the same way as before. But, in my opinion, India will win this match," he added.India had previously secured a convincing seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their Group A encounter.The reduced enthusiasm for the match among citizens of both nations reflects the current state of bilateral relations between the two countries.