The highly anticipated Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan concluded with a dominant seven-wicket victory for India, but the match was quickly overshadowed by a controversy surrounding the post-match formalities. After sealing the victory with a six, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube promptly left the field, with the rest of the Indian team following suit, foregoing the customary handshakes with the Pakistani players.
The apparent snub drew immediate attention, with Pakistan's captain, Salman Agha, leading his team towards the Indian dressing room in anticipation of the traditional exchange. However, the Indian team did not emerge, leaving the Pakistani players to return to their own dressing room, visibly disappointed. Adding to the tension, Agha also skipped the post-match presentation.
Suryakumar Yadav addressed the situation, stating that the decision to forgo handshakes was a conscious one, made in alignment with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government. He explained that the gesture was meant to express solidarity with the victims of the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 people were killed in April. "I feel a few things in life are ahead of sportsman's spirit," Suryakumar stated. "We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. We stand with their families, also, and express our solidarity". He further dedicated the win to the Indian armed forces involved in "Operation Sindoor".
Pakistan's coach, Mike Hesson, voiced his team's disappointment with India's actions. "We were ready to shake hands," Hesson said. "Our opposition didn't do that. We went over there to shake hands and they had already gone into the changing room". He described it as a "disappointing way for the match to finish".
The match itself was politically charged, being the first encounter between the two nations since a four-day military conflict ended in a ceasefire in May. India's victory, achieved with 25 balls to spare, further highlighted their dominance in the match. Kuldeep Yadav's impressive spin bowling earned him the Player of the Match award, while Suryakumar Yadav's captain's knock of 47 not out secured the win. India's decision to not shake hands, however, has sparked debate about the intersection of sportsmanship and political sentiment.
