Islamabad: India’s cricketers refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following their Asia Cup triumph in Dubai, as claimed by Pakistan coach Mike Hesson. This marked the first encounter between the two teams since a tense military standoff earlier this year. India secured a convincing seven-wicket victory, with captain Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube leaving the field immediately after the match, foregoing the customary handshake.
According to BBC, Pakistan’s players approached India’s dugout post-match, only to find that India’s team had already returned to their dressing rooms. Hesson expressed disappointment over the incident, stating, “We were disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that.” At the post-match presentation, Suryakumar described the victory as a “perfect return gift to India” and dedicated it to the victims and families of a recent terror attack, as well as India’s armed forces.
The backdrop to this controversy involves a terror attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, which resulted in the deaths of 25 Indians and one Nepali national. India attributed the attack to Pakistan, a claim Pakistan denied, leading to retaliatory military actions from both sides. Tensions between the two nations have remained high, with this being their only cricket encounter outside of global events.
The cricketing rivalry was further fueled by Suryakumar’s comments on India’s decision to participate in the Asia Cup. “The government and the BCCI [Board of Control for Cricket in India], we were aligned,” he said. “We took a call and we came here just to play the game. We gave the proper reply.”
On the field, India showcased a dominant performance. Pakistan’s innings began poorly, with opener Saim Ayub dismissed on the first legitimate delivery. Despite a brief recovery, Pakistan’s batting collapsed, managing only 127-9, thanks to India’s spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. India chased down the target comfortably, led by Suryakumar’s unbeaten 47.
The political tensions have affected cricketing ties, with neither country willing to host the other for International Cricket Council events. The Women’s World Cup, originally scheduled in India, has been moved to Sri Lanka for Pakistan’s matches. Despite the off-field issues, both teams could potentially face off again in the Asia Cup if they progress to the later stages.
The previous meeting in the Champions Trophy had already seen India refusing to travel to Pakistan, leading to matches being held in Dubai. This ongoing saga continues to highlight the complex relationship between the two cricketing giants.