India's ninth Asia Cup crown eventually became a mere footnote as the expected cordiality on a sports field gave way to confrontation in the final clash against Pakistan where the rival players mocked each other both during and after the match.

The tournament had been fraught with tension from the very start, and the animosity carried into the final, which India won by five wickets on a rather long Sunday night.

Related news:

Can’t accept Asia Cup trophy from a person who is ‘waging a war against the country’: BCCI

‘Pakistan deserved it’ says Kiren Rijiju on Bumrah’s ‘plane down’ savage reply to Haris Rauf

What started with India's refusal to shake hands to show solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian armed forces descended into a full-blown mocking match

See Full Page