India Players Decline Handshake With Pakistan After Asia Cup 2025 Clash

India secured a commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A match on Sunday at Dubai International Cricket Stadium, chasing down 128 runs in just 15.5 overs. Captain Suryakumar Yadav remained unbeaten on 47 off 37 balls, while Shivam Dube supported with a steady knock to seal the win with 25 balls to spare. The triumph marks India's second consecutive victory in the tournament, propelling them closer to the Super Four stage. However, the post-match formalities were overshadowed by the absence of customary handshakes, reflecting the strained relations between the two nations.

The snub began at the toss, where Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha avoided eye contact and skipped the traditional handshake, setting a tense tone for the encounter. After Yadav hit the winning six, the Indian team walked straight to their dugout, exchanging embraces among themselves but ignoring the approaching Pakistani players.

Reports indicate Agha later approached the Indian dressing room, only for the door to be shut, leaving the opposition waiting outside. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson voiced his frustration during the post-match press conference, stating, "We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game. We are disappointed that our opposition did not do that. We went over there to shake hands, but they had already gone into the changing room." Agha, in turn, skipped the presentation ceremony, with only teammate Shaheen Shah Afridi attending on Pakistan's behalf.

The incident stems from escalating political tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, 2025, where militants killed 26 civilians, primarily Hindu tourists, in Jammu and Kashmir's Baisaran meadows. Linked to The Resistance Front, an offshoot of Lashkar-e-Taiba, the assault prompted India's Operation Sindoor airstrikes on alleged terror camps in Pakistan in May, leading to a brief military standoff before a ceasefire.

In his post-match remarks, Yadav addressed the tragedy directly: "It's the perfect occasion... We stand by the victims and families of Pahalgam. We express our solidarity. We also want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces. Hope they continue to inspire us all." He later clarified to the media that the decision was not pre-planned but aligned with sentiments from the government and Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), emphasising, "We came here to play the game and gave them a perfect reply."

Also Read: Suryakumar Yadav Dedicates India’s Asia Cup Win to Forces

Yadav reiterated that the match was treated as "just another game", with preparations consistent across opponents, underscoring the team's focus despite the backdrop. The Asian Cricket Council has yet to comment officially on the controversy, though public calls for boycotting the fixture had preceded the event. India and Pakistan could rematch in the Super Four in about a week if both advance, potentially reigniting debates on sportsmanship amid geopolitical strife. The episode highlights how off-field issues continue to infiltrate cricket's high-stakes rivalries, leaving fans and officials grappling with the blend of competition and diplomacy.

Also Read: Toss Won, Battle On: Pakistan Opts to Bat First Against India