Online Reporter
COLOMBO awoke to its greyest sky of the week come Sunday morning. A portent, perhaps, of the weather forecast which briefly caused a scare prior to India’s dominant win over Pakistan in the ICC Men’s T20I Cricket World Cup that evening.
It certainly mirrored the cloud lurking over the build-up to cricket’s most-charged derby.
Pakistan relented on their original decision to boycott the fixture in solidarity with Bangladesh, who had to forfeit their place in this T20 World Cup when refused dispensation to play their games outside of India.
Arguably more interest stemmed from the pageantry of Sunday’s game than from the actual cricket.
Plenty were on handshake-watch given recent history between these two. Polite formalities did not return at the toss, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha giving each other the silent treatment.
To be ready for the myriad cameras capturing the flip of the coin, both captains have to be in place a good two minutes before getting on with the ceremony. When mired in such awkwardness, it seems an eternity.
Enough time for a detail-oriented TV producer to spot that Salman, Pakistan’s skipper, sported a kink in his collar. The scruffy schoolboy-look was rectified by an anonymous figure inadvertently stealing the situation’s authority.
It certainly detracted from the attempted strong-man image projected by stubborn leaders. As did the behaviour of the ex-pros off the pitch.
On the ICC broadcast, Rohit Sharma and Wasim Akram warmly greeted before walking the tournament trophy onto the field.
Away from the cameras, Harbhajan Singh, Misbah Ul-Haq and Ramiz Raja were spotted in cordial conversation in the media area.
The stadium certainly felt different to earlier World Cup matches at this venue.
A perimeter was set multiple blocks from the ground. Bags were inspected long before the entrance. And again upon arrival. — BBC Sport.
