Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, where 26 tourists lost their lives to Pakistan-backed terrorists. Despite widespread calls to boycott the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai, the fixture went ahead amid heightened political and public scrutiny
(L-R) Amit Mishra, Mohammad Yousuf, Suryakumar Yadav (Pic: Amit Mishra Instagram/PTI/AFP)
Former India leg-spinner Amit Mishra strongly condemned ex-Pakistan batter Mohammad Yousuf for using a derogatory slur against India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, calling it a new low in cross-border cricket discourse.
Tensions between India and Pakistan have escalated following the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22, where 26 tourists lost their lives to Pakistan-backed terrorists. Despite widespread calls to boycott the India-Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai, the fixture went ahead amid heightened political and public scrutiny.
India clinched a seven-wicket win in the high-stakes encounter. However, post-match events sparked a fresh wave of controversy. Led by Suryakumar, the Indian team chose not to shake hands with Pakistani players as a mark of solidarity with the victims of the attack and a tribute to the Indian Armed Forces, who launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation.
Reacting to India’s stance, Pakistan pulled out of the post-match presentation, and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed a formal complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of violating the ICC’s Code of Conduct. The ICC later dismissed the appeal.
As former Pakistani cricketers criticised India's decision, Yousuf sparked outrage during a televised panel discussion on Samaa TV, repeatedly referring to Suryakumar as 'Suarkumar', while accusing India of manipulating match officials.
Mishra responded sharply in an interview with ANI, saying, “This shows how uneducated they are. Despite being a Test cricketer, he is making such remarks. They just speak nonsense. They have done it in the past and will continue to do it. What else do they have left? They complained about the match referee. It was India's decision not to shake hands. But India respected the sport. We should not listen to such people.”
He further asserted that India's choice to not engage in handshakes was professional, not disrespectful, and aligned with the spirit of the game. "I am with the Indian team. The entire nation is with the team. Irrespective of the level of cricket they play, they show their class. None of the Indian legends used such derogatory remarks. I won't even consider them cricketers. This shows the difference in the thinking level of India and Pakistan," he added.
On Tuesday, Yousuf attempted to defend his comments via a post on X, referencing Irfan Pathan’s past remarks about Shahid Afridi. However, his message stopped short of an apology, instead deflecting blame.
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