India, Pakistan skip handshake after Asia Cup clash
According to Pakistan’s coach Mike Hesson, following India’s impressive seven-wicket victory, Indian players declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
KATHMANDU: For the first time since the escalation of the India-Pakistan conflict in April, a cricket match between the two sides in Dubai saw players refuse the customary post-match handshake, sparking controversy and discussion.
According to Pakistan’s coach Mike Hesson, following India’s impressive seven-wicket victory, Indian players declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
Traditionally, both teams exchange handshakes after the game as a gesture of sportsmanship, but Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and batting partner Shivam Dube left the field immediately.
By the time the Pakistani players exited the ground, the Indian team had already returned to their dressing room via the dugout.
Hesson noted that Yadav did not even congratulate Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha on winning the toss. “Naturally, we were ready to shake hands at the end of the game,” said Hesson. “We were disappointed that our competitors chose not to do so.”
Speaking at the post-match press conference, Yadav described the victory as “India’s best gift” and added, “We stand with the victims and families of terrorist attacks, showing our solidarity. We dedicate today’s win to all our armed forces who displayed immense bravery.” No Pakistani players provided comments on the incident.
The confrontation comes against the backdrop of the four-day military standoff between India and Pakistan following the deadly terrorist attack near Pahalgam in Indian-administered Kashmir in April.
India had blamed Pakistan for the attack, a claim Pakistan denied, which escalated into airstrikes and missile exchanges, resulting in dozens of casualties—the most severe military clash between the neighbors in decades.
Since then, the two neighboring nations have avoided any cricketing encounters outside major international tournaments.
Calls to cancel or boycott the Asia Cup were raised, yet the match proceeded. Should both teams progress to the later stages, a rematch in this Asia Cup remains a possibility.
