No handshake, big fallout: Pakistan protest India’s stance

India’s win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday night ended on a tense note, with captain Suryakumar Yadav confirming his team chose not to shake hands with their rivals.

The India skipper said it was a “proper reply,” taken in agreement with both the BCCI and the government.

The scenes were striking. After hitting the winning six, Suryakumar walked straight to partner Shivam Dube, shook his hand, and left the field without acknowledging the Pakistani players. Even at the toss there had been no handshake between him and opposite number Salman Ali Agha.

“We came here with a plan and we gave the proper reply,” Suryakumar told the press afterwards. “I feel some things in life are bigger than sportsmanship. We wanted to show our solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and dedicate this win to our armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor. They inspire us, and we hope to inspire them whenever possible.”
Pakistan were quick to react. The PCB issued a statement calling India’s stance “unsporting and against the spirit of the game.” Manager Naveed Cheema lodged an official protest and, as a mark of defiance, Pakistan did not send their captain for the post-match presentation.

Coach Mike Hesson said his players had been ready to shake hands and were taken aback when the Indians walked away. “We were keen to engage. Our players went forward, but the opposition were already heading off. That was disappointing. We were not happy with our performance in the match, but we still wanted to show respect at the end,” he said.

While the controversy grabbed headlines, on the field there was no doubt who was the stronger side. India controlled the contest from start to finish. Suryakumar credited that composure to shutting out external distractions. “We agreed from the first day to cut the outside noise by 75–80%,” he explained. “That way we could play with a clear mind. The support from the crowd helped too.”