An India-Pakistan contest is not just a nerve-wracking encounter alone on the field, it is also about roaring fans giving the stadium the atmosphere of a Roman Colosseum. Surprisingly, the Pallekele Stadium was cocooned in a rather serene ambience on Saturday, as India and Pakistan faced each other in their Asia Cup 2023 Group A match.

There were fans, the flag-waving, cheering, applauding kind. But not in numbers that often electrify the venue, despite India batting first. There were several empty spaces in the stands and on the grass banks here, something one will not see during an Indo-Pak cricket clash.