An India-Pakistan match is often compared to war by other means, and raises intense passions on both sides of the subcontinent, but among the players on both sides, there is not only no such animosity but plenty of camaraderies. 

India is slated to begin their campaign at Asia Cup 2022 against arch-rival Pakistan on Sunday in Dubai. The two teams will face each other for the first time since last year’s face-off in the T20 World Cup at the same venue.

Excitement among South Asian fans in Dubai has reached its peak and, according to local media, fans  have started gathering in numbers outside the Dubai International Cricket Stadium for a glimpse of the cricketers. Some diehard fans have also managed to speak to their favourite players in person and one such lucky admirer was Noor, a specially-abled girl from Karachi, Pakistan, who came there with her mother and sister.

Noor arrived at the stadium where the Indian and Pakistan players were training. Accompanied by her mother and elder sister, she met the players of her country. However, she waited outside the stadium for almost three hours just to meet her idol Virat Kohli.

Noor’s patience paid off as Kohli, after he got to know about her, came to see her after India’s training session got over. Kohil met Noor and her family and clicked pictures with them. 

In a video shared by a YouTube channel called Paktv.tv, Kohli can be seen meeting Noor and her family. Speaking with the channel, a visibly excited Noor said: “He asked me how am I and spoke to me elegantly.” 

“We have been waiting so long we have already met the players of the Pakistan cricket team, but we wanted to meet Virat Kohli. It’s great that he came to see us and met us so warmly,” said Noor’s mother.

Noor’s sister said, “He spoke to us so well. I’ve heard that Kohli has the attitude, but he met us so generously and gave us time.”

In a published photo a couple of days ago, Kohli is also seen warmly greeting Pakistan's captain and star batsman Babar Azam as both teams crossed each other before their practice session at the stadium. 

In Sunday's match, while India won’t have the services of lead pacer Jasprit Bumrah, Pakistan will also take the field without Shaheen Afridi, who was lethal in the match against the Indians in Dubai. Both are nursing injuries and will be out of action for some time. 

(SAM)