Former champions India and Pakistan will face off on Sunday in a T20 World Cup blockbuster in Dubai and the buzz around the game underlines the enduring appeal of the matchup between the sub-continent’s feuding neighbours.

India captain Virat Kohli and Pakistan counterpart Babar Azam have called it just another game, but that is clearly not the case.

Speaking to reporters at the Nagpur airport, Yoga guru Ramdev on Saturday said the India-Pakistan T20 World Cup match scheduled for Sunday is against the national interest and ‘Rashtradharma’ as the ‘game of cricket and the game of terror cannot be played at the same time.’

When asked about Sunday’s India-Pakistan cricket tie amid tensions on the LOC, Ramdev said, “I feel that the cricket match under such a situation is against ‘Rashtradharma ‘ and not in the interest of the nation. The game of cricket and the game of terror cannot be played at the same time.”

The nuclear-armed neighbours have gone to war three times since gaining independence from British colonial rule in the mid-20th century and remain at loggerheads over Kashmir.

India last hosted Pakistan in a bilateral series in 2013 and the teams now meet only in global tournaments, the last being the 2019 ODI World Cup in England.

India have a 12-0 record against Pakistan in T20 and 50-overs World Cups and they will hope to extend that streak in their tournament opener against their arch-rivals.

The match is a repeat of the 2007 final when India pipped Pakistan to the inaugural title after a heart-stopping match.