Following India's victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A match, controversy erupted after Pakistan's captain, Salman Agha, was absent from the post-match interviews and the Indian team seemingly snubbed handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts.
After India's Suryakumar Yadav secured the win, he and Shivam Dube exited the field, heading directly to the dressing room without shaking hands. Subsequently, the Pakistani players, led by Salman Agha, waited near the Indian dressing room, but received no acknowledgment from the Indian team. This দৃশ্য reportedly frustrated Pakistan's head coach, Mike Hesson.
Adding to the tension, Salman Agha did not appear for the post-match interviews, which were conducted by Sanjay Manjrekar. Kuldeep Yadav, who was named Man of the Match, and Suryakumar Yadav, the winning captain, both participated in the interviews, but Agha's absence was notable.
Mike Hesson later told the media that Salman Agha was disappointed by India's refusal to shake hands, which led to his decision to skip the post-match interview. Hesson stated that it was unfortunate that the handshake didn't occur, as Pakistan was keen to engage in the customary gesture.
Earlier in the day, a similar situation occurred at the toss, where neither captain initiated a handshake or made eye contact after Pakistan won the toss and chose to bat first. However, sources from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suggest that Suryakumar's actions were not specifically targeted at Pakistan.
The series of events has sparked discussions and debates among fans and analysts, with some criticizing the perceived lack of sportsmanship. Others have downplayed the incidents, attributing them to the high-pressure environment and intense rivalry between the two nations. Some have speculated whether this marks a new chapter in India-Pakistan cricket relations.
Prior to the match, there was another instance where Salman Agha appeared to walk off after a press conference without shaking hands with Suryakumar Yadav, causing a stir on social media. However, later footage showed that a handshake did occur, seemingly dispelling the rumors of a deliberate snub. At the same press conference, when asked about aggression on the field, Suryakumar Yadav stated that aggression is always present and necessary in the sport, while Salman Ali Agha welcomed any aggression from his opponents.
