In the high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Team India registered a win by seven wickets at the Dubai International Stadium.
After the side`s victory, the “Men in Blue” refused to shake hands with the “Green Shirts”, and it was a collective decision endorsed by an important member of the support staff and was given a green signal by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The refusal was not a spur-of-the-moment call.
The match was played despite calls for a boycott amid heightened geopolitical tensions between the two nations following the Pahalgam terror attack in April and the ensuing `Operation Sindoor` by India on terrorist bases across the border in May.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav finished the match by smashing a maximum in Sufiyan Muqeem`s over.
While speaking after the match, the skipper said that his side had come here only to play, and some things are beyond sportsmanship.
“We took a team call. We had come only to play. We had given them a reply. Some things are beyond sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took part in `Operation Sindoor` and stand with families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack,” he said.
Pakistan`s skipper, Salman Ali Agha, had lined up with his team for the customary handshake, but no one from Team India responded to that. He didn`t make his appearance for the post-match presentation.
Speaking on the incident, Pakistan`s head coach, Mike Hesson, said that their skipper not attending the presentation was the cause and effect of the `no handshake` moment that happened in Dubai.
“We wanted to shake hands but disappointed that the opposition didn`t do that. Disappointed with the way we played, but we wanted to shake hands,” Hesson said.
“Salman not coming for the post-match presentation was cause and effect after what happened,” added the 50-year-old.
Earlier in the evening, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha did not engage in the customary handshake during the toss for their Group A contest of the Asia Cup 2025 and also refused to make any eye contact, drawing the attention of the cricket fraternity.
(With PTI Inputs)