The aftermath of India's dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their recent Asia Cup 2025 Group A clash has been marred by controversy, as the traditional post-match handshake between the two teams failed to materialize. The incident has sparked debate and disappointment, with Pakistan's coach, Mike Hesson, expressing his annoyance at what he perceived as a snub from the Indian side.
Following India's victory, secured by Suryakumar Yadav's winning six, the Indian players, Yadav and Shivam Dube, proceeded directly to their dressing room, forgoing the customary exchange of handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts. Meanwhile, the Pakistani team members shook hands amongst themselves and waited for the Indian team to emerge for the traditional exchange. However, the Indian team remained in their dressing room, closing the door, leaving the Pakistani players waiting.
According to reports, Pakistan's captain, Salman Ali Agha, and coach, Mike Hesson, approached the Indian dressing room in hopes of a handshake, but received no response. Hesson voiced his disappointment during the post-match press conference, stating that the Pakistan team was ready and willing to shake hands, viewing it as a traditional sign of respect between rivals. He expressed that it was a disappointing way to end the match.
The absence of handshakes extended beyond the post-match ritual. Even at the toss, the two captains, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha, skipped the customary handshake, adding to the strained atmosphere.
India's captain, Suryakumar Yadav, addressed the issue, stating that the decision was aligned with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the government. He alluded to the recent terror attacks in Pahalgam and dedicated the win to the armed forces, suggesting that certain sentiments transcended sportsmanship. "Few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit also," Yadav said. He added, "We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and we stand with their families."
The incident has drawn strong reactions, with reports indicating that Pakistan's team manager lodged a formal protest with the match referee regarding the handshake snub and an earlier request allegedly made to the captains not to shake hands at the toss.
The strained relationship between the two cricket boards is evident. Last month, India announced a new sports policy that prohibits bilateral events with Pakistan, although matches in multi-team international tournaments are permitted.
The Asia Cup clash took place amidst heightened political tensions, with the first match between the two sides since a four-day military conflict earlier in the year. Calls for boycotting the match emerged in India, but the game proceeded as scheduled.
India's dominant performance on the field saw them restrict Pakistan to 127/9, with Kuldeep Yadav taking 3-18. In response, India chased down the target in just 15.5 overs, with Suryakumar Yadav anchoring the innings. Despite the convincing victory, the off-field drama surrounding the handshake incident has added another layer of intrigue to this historic rivalry.
