DIPLOMATIC ties between India and Pakistan might continue to be strained following the arch-rivals’ four-day stand-off in May, but at least the restoration of cricketing ties between them had appeared to be a step forward. Despite the boycott calls in the country, India seemed to be open to playing against Pakistan in multilateral tournaments, following the trend of the last decade — the two sides have not played a bilateral series since 2012.

Sunday’s Asia Cup match — their first clash since the war in May — could have broken the ice had India not decided to politicise the matter. Boycott calls in India —........

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