Dubai: The Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan ended in controversy after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav confirmed his team deliberately avoided the customary post-match handshake with their rivals. The decision came after India’s seven-wicket victory in Dubai and was framed as a symbolic protest linked to recent cross-border tensions.
Yadav, who scored the winning runs, told reporters that the win was a “perfect reply” to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir and India’s subsequent military strikes under Operation Sindoor. He dedicated the performance to the Indian armed forces, stating that some matters were above sporting rituals.
The absence of the handshake, a long-standing cricketing tradition, drew immediate attention. Pakistan’s players waited on the field for the Indian squad, only to watch them retreat into their dressing room without acknowledgment. Team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a protest with the match referee, Andy Pycroft, who later apologized for the incident. Sources said the referee had quietly granted India permission to skip handshakes, though Pakistan’s side was not informed.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha refused to appear for the post-match presentation, while coach Mike Hesson described the situation as disappointing. Asian Cricket Council chairman Mohsin Naqvi criticized the move, saying that dragging politics into sport undermines its spirit.
Despite the controversy, India’s progress to the Super Four stage looks assured, while Pakistan must defeat the UAE to advance, setting up a potential rematch between the archrivals.
