The incident occurred during a heated panel discussion on Pakistani news channel Samaa TV, where Yousuf mispronounced Suryakumar’s name as 'Suar Kumar' and then repeated it even after being corrected by the anchor
Mohammad Yousuf, Suryakumar Yadav, Irfan Pathan (Pic: PTI/AFP)
The controversy surrounding the now-infamous handshake snub between Indian and Pakistani players during their Group A encounter at the Asia Cup 2025 shows no signs of fading. The situation escalated further when former Pakistan cricketer Mohammad Yousuf hurled a vulgar slur at India captain Suryakumar Yadav, referring to him as a 'pig' during a live television broadcast.
The incident occurred during a heated panel discussion on Pakistani news channel Samaa TV, where Yousuf mispronounced Suryakumar’s name as 'Suar Kumar' and then repeated it even after being corrected by the anchor. He went on to allege that India manipulated match referee Andy Pycroft, claiming the pre- and post-match handshake was deliberately avoided at India’s request.
In the face of widespread backlash, Yousuf later attempted damage control through a post on X, saying that he had not intended any disrespect toward “any sportsman who plays for his country with passion and grace.” Notably, he refrained from naming Suryakumar in the statement and failed to offer a direct apology.
Instead, Yousuf redirected his criticism toward former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan, accusing him of having once insulted Shahid Afridi during an interview, and questioned Indian media’s support of Pathan at the time.
"Why were the Indian media and people praising Irfan Pathan when he said that Shahid Khan Afridi was barking like a dog? Shouldn’t that have been rejected by everyone who talks about dignity and respect?” he wrote.
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Mohammad Yousuf's now-deleted tweet
The controversy began during Sunday’s group-stage clash in Dubai, when Suryakumar visibly declined to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss. The tension continued post-match after India’s commanding seven-wicket win, as both Suryakumar and fellow batter Shivam Dube walked directly off the field, bypassing the traditional post-match handshakes.
Pakistani players, who had gathered along the boundary in anticipation of the customary exchange, were visibly snubbed. In protest, Salman Ali Agha reportedly boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony.
In the aftermath, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged an official complaint against Pycroft, accusing him of orchestrating the 'no-handshake' directive. The PCB demanded Pycroft’s immediate suspension from the tournament and threatened to withdraw from the Asia Cup if the request was not honoured.
However, the International Cricket Council (ICC), which oversees match official appointments for the tournament, rejected the PCB’s demand. Amid the intensifying row, the Pakistan team on Tuesday cancelled their scheduled training session on the eve of their crucial game against the UAE.
If Pakistan refuses to take the field on Wednesday, it would result in immediate elimination from the tournament and potentially massive financial losses, including an estimated Rs 141 crore from the ACC's annual revenue share.
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