The match was played despite calls for a boycott amid heightened geopolitical tensions between the two nations following the Pahalgam terror attack in April and the ensuing 'Operation Sindoor' by India on terrorist bases across the border in May
Suryakumar Yadav (Pic: X/@BCCI)
In the high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 match against arch-rivals Pakistan, Team India registered a win by seven wickets at the Dubai International Stadium.
After the side's victory, the "Men in Blue" refused to shake hands with the "Green Shirts", and it was a collective decision endorsed by an important member of the support staff and was given a green signal by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
The refusal was not a spur-of-the-moment call.
The match was played despite calls for a boycott amid heightened geopolitical tensions between the two nations following the Pahalgam terror attack in April and the ensuing 'Operation Sindoor' by India on terrorist bases across the border in May.
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav finished the match by smashing a maximum in Sufiyan Muqeem's over.
While speaking after the match, the skipper said that his side had come here only to play, and some things are beyond sportsmanship.
"We took a team call. We had come only to play. We had given them a reply. Some things are beyond sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took part in 'Operation Sindoor' and stand with families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack," he said.
Pakistan's skipper, Salman Ali Agha, had lined up with his team for the customary handshake, but no one from Team India responded to that. He didn't make his appearance for the post-match presentation.
Speaking on the incident, Pakistan's head coach, Mike Hesson, said that their skipper not attending the presentation was the cause and effect of the 'no handshake' moment that happened in Dubai.
"We wanted to shake hands but disappointed that the opposition didn't do that. Disappointed with the way we played, but we wanted to shake hands," Hesson said.
"Salman not coming for the post-match presentation was cause and effect after what happened," added the 50-year-old.
Earlier in the evening, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha did not engage in the customary handshake during the toss for their Group A contest of the Asia Cup 2025 and also refused to make any eye contact, drawing the attention of the cricket fraternity.
(With PTI Inputs)
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