In the high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 match against arch-rivals Team India, Pakistan suffered a humiliating loss by seven wickets at the Dubai International Stadium.
After the match, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Team India refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players in Dubai.
Following the incident, Pakistan have lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) over the Indian team`s refusal to shake hands after the Asia Cup 2025 match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), in a statement on Sunday night, labelled the opponent`s act as “unsporting” after the match.
“Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players` behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the sport of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post match ceremony,” read a PCB statement.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav finished the match by smashing a maximum in Sufiyan Muqeem`s over. Later, speaking about the incident, he said, “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”.
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.
Even earlier, there were no handshakes seen between the two captains during the toss of the Asia Cup 2025 mega clash between arch-rivals, India and Pakistan. Both of them also did not make any eye contact, which in turn also drew the attention of the cricket fraternity.
(With PTI Inputs)