Abhishek Sharma clashes with Pakistan spinner, umpire steps in during intense IND vs PAK Emerging Teams Asia Cup match

India A got off to a strong start after choosing to bat first, with openers Abhishek Sharma and Prabhsimran Singh displaying aggressive intent from the beginning. The duo went after the Pakistan A bowlers right from the powerplay, consistently finding boundaries and putting pressure on the opposition. Prabhsimran's attacking stroke play set the tone for the innings, with Abhishek quickly joining in to further propel India past the 50-run mark. Their partnership put the Pakistan A bowlers on the defensive, leaving them struggling to contain the onslaught from the Indian batsmen.

Just as India A looked set for a massive partnership, Pakistan A’s Sufiyan Muqeem struck to break the dangerous stand. The left-arm spinner bowled a length delivery outside off-stump, tempting Abhishek into a wild slog, but the Indian batter mistimed it, offering a catch to the fielder at point. The wicket brought relief to Pakistan A, but it also ignited tempers.

Fired up after the breakthrough, Muqeem seemed to be verbally aggressive toward Abhishek as the batter walked off, leading to an immediate reaction from the Indian opener. Not one to back down, Abhishek responded in kind, sparking a heated exchange between the two players. The situation quickly escalated, forcing the umpire to step in and cool things down.

Following Abhishek Sharma’s dismissal just after the powerplay, captain Tilak Varma stepped up to steady India’s innings with a crucial knock of 44 from 35 balls. Varma’s quick scoring kept the momentum going, while Nehal Wadhera (25) and Ramandeep Singh (17) provided valuable middle-order support.

Their contributions helped India A reach a competitive total of 183/8 in their 20 overs. Pakistan’s Sufiyan Muqeem was the standout performer with the ball, claiming two wickets, including a crucial one when he clean-bowled Wadhera to halt India A’s progress.

Mohammad Imran, Zaman Khan, Arafat Minhas, and Qasim Akram each chipped in with a wicket, keeping India’s middle order in check and ensuring Pakistan A remained in the contest.