A dominant Indian cricket team led by Suryakumar Yadav easily defeated bitter rivals Pakistan by seven wickets in their crucial Asia Cup 2025 Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.
Since India outperformed Pakistan in every way as if they were some minnows and made it appear to be no contest at all. However, off-field drama overshadowed the outcome as Indian players neglected the customary post-match handshake.
Suryakumar Yadav On No-Handshake Gesture
Suryakumar defended their decision to not shake hands with the Pakistani team by claiming that it was their way of expressing support for the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terrorist attack. India launched Operation Sindoor in retaliation after Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 Indian tourists.
For the first time after the heinous attack in Kashmir and the subsequent Indian military operation against terror infrastructure throughout Pakistan in May, the bitter rivals squared off on a cricket field. Suryakumar did not speak to or shake hands with Salman Ali Agha, his Pakistani rival, even during the toss.
“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,” said Suryakumar Yadav.
Pakistan Captain And Coach’s Reaction
Salman skipped the match presentation ceremony after the incident with the no-handshake at the end of the game, which also did not sit well with the management of the Pakistani squad.
“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. Salman not coming for the post-match presentation was cause and effect after what happened,” Paksitan head coach Mike Hesson said.
Many former Pakistani cricketers like Shoaib Akhtar voiced the same and criticised India’s action. They further also demanded that the Men in Blue should keep politics away from the sport. On the other hand, the decision was backed massively in India.
PCB’s First Reaction To No-Handshake Controversy
PCB said that they lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council after the Indian players’ refused to shake hands with Pakistan after their Asia Cup match, calling it ‘unsporting’ and raising tensions between the two nations. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declared in a statement late on Sunday, September 14, 2025, that India’s conduct went against the spirit of the game.
“Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the sport of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post match ceremony,” read a PCB statement.
PCB Suspended Their Own Top Official Over Handshake Controversy
According to reports, Usman Wahla, the Director of International Cricket for the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), has been suspended in the wake of the handshake incident during the Asia Cup 2025 match against India. ASports reported that Wahla was fired because the PCB was upset with him for not filing a complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft for his handling of the matter. In a complaint submitted on Monday, the PCB claimed that Pycroft instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha to not shake hands with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav.
“Wahla was removed from his position over the delay in issuing a formal response to the match referee’s conduct and India’s actions,” the report said.
PCB Demands Removal Of Andy Pycroft
The Indian players and match referee Pycroft became the target of formal protests from the Pakistan Cricket Board. Salman Agha, the captain of Pakistan, was advised by Pycroft not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav, according to the PCB’s letter. The refusal of Indian players to shake hands with the rival team was cited as a violation of the Code of Conduct Rules.
PCB had made it clear in the letter to ICC that they will withdraw their side from the competition if Andy Pycroft was not dismissed. Pakistan will play the United Arab Emirates tomorrow.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” Naqvi wrote on X addressing the incident.
“Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace,” PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi also wrote in another X post.
ICC Rejects PCB’s Demand To Remove Andy Pycroft
Pakistan’s request to have match referee Andy Pycroft removed from the rest of the Asia Cup has been denied by the International Cricket Council. Following an investigation, the ICC informed the PCB of its decision. As per an India Today report, some Asian Cricket Council officials, including the PCB director, were well aware beforehand that the two captains would not shake hands
As of right now, Pakistan has two choices before playing the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, September 17. They can choose to withdraw by maintaining their position in the India-Pakistan stalemate, or they can swallow their pride and continue competing in the event.