Dubai – Unlike Sharjah, the once spiritual home of cricket in the desert nation where Indo-Pak contests often carried the baggage of geopolitics, the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS) is a different beast altogether — a sprawling, modern piece of architecture pinned to one end of the city, slightly away from the buzz of the central business district.

And yet, on Sunday evening, the stadium and its neighbourhood morphed into a carnival ground. Hours before the 6.30 pm start here, Indian and Pakistani fans made a beeline, soaking in the atmosphere with song, banter and cheer.

For once, cricket felt like unadulterated joy.

“Du rupaiyee ka chewing gum, Surya bhau Singham,” shouted a group of fans from Maharashtra, breaking into Bollywood-style slogans.

In the same queue, a few Pa

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