Suryakumar Defends Skipping Handshake, Dedicates Win to Armed Forces; PCB & ACC React

After their high-voltage Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai, India and Pakistan players walked off without shaking hands. India needed only 3 runs to win and Suryakumar Yadav ended it with a six in the 16th over. After that shot, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube just bumped fists, congratulated each other and walked back to the dressing room.

After the match, Indian players shook hands with their own teammates in the dugout but stayed away from the Pakistan players, while the Pakistan team exchanged handshakes among themselves and headed to their dressing room. A striking moment came when Pakistan’s players waited for India to step out for the usual handshake, but the Indian side chose not to and instead closed their dressing room door.

Reports say Salman decided to skip the post-match presentation after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav avoided the usual handshake before the game. During the toss with Ravi Shastri, both captains stood next to each other but did not shake hands, and the same happened after the match. While Pakistan players came out in a queue, the Indian players did not appear. The match carried a lot of controversy, with many calling for a boycott because of the political tensions between the two nations, especially after the Pahalgam attack in April.

“Few Things Are Bigger Than Sportsmanship”: Suryakumar Yadav

India captain Suryakumar Yadav defended his choice not to shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha during the toss at the Asia Cup 2025. The Indian team also avoided the usual post-match handshake even as Pakistan players waited along the boundary line. Speaking to the press on Sunday, Suryakumar was asked if skipping the handshake went against the spirit of the game. He replied by dedicating the win to the Indian armed forces and said the team stood in support of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

"Few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit. We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and we stand with their families. As I said, we dedicate this win to our brave armed forces who took part in Operation Sindoor," Suryakumar Yadav said.

"Our government and BCCI, we were aligned together. The rest, we came here, we took a call. I feel we came here just to play the game. I think we gave them a proper reply." he added.

Pakistan Coach Mike Hesson Criticises India for Skipping Handshake

Following Pakistan’s defeat to India by seven wickets, coach Mike Hesson expressed frustration over the Indian team not shaking hands post-match in Dubai. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Hesson said Pakistan’s players were ready to follow the spirit of the game with the usual handshake, but the Indian side chose to walk straight off the field instead.

“Obviously, we were ready to shake hands at the end of the game. We were disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that. We went over there to shake hands but they were already heading to the dressing room. It was a disappointing way for the game to end. We were not satisfied with how we played, but we were certainly willing to go and shake hands,” Hesson said.

“I think it was just a flow-on effect. We were keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match, that didn’t happen and that was pretty much the end of it,” he explained.

ACC Chief Warns Against Dragging Politics Into Cricket

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi also showed his disappointment after India refused to shake hands with Pakistan players following their Asia Cup clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Sharing his views on X, Naqvi called the act unsportsmanlike and expressed his concern over 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,” he wrote.

India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, defeated Pakistan by six wickets in their Asia Cup 2025 clash at the Dubai International Stadium. With this win, India became the first team to reach the Super Four stage. Suryakumar finished the match in Dhoni’s style by hitting a six off Sufiyan Muqeem on the second-last ball of the 16th over.

Pakistan chose to bat first but lost an early wicket as Hardik Pandya struck with his very first ball sending back Saim Ayub. After two quick dismissals, Sahibzada Farhan and Fakhar Zaman tried to rebuild with a 39-run stand for the third wicket. But Jasprit Bumrah also struck early removing Mohammad Haris with the second ball of his first over. Pakistan soon slipped to 64/5 in 12.4 overs.

India’s spinners then took full control. Axar Patel (2/18), Kuldeep Yadav (3/18) and Varun Chakravarthy (1/24) bowled tight spells giving Pakistan’s batters no room to score. Together, they delivered 40 dot balls, while Bumrah added 15 more. Pakistan’s innings struggled throughout, but Shaheen Afridi’s quick cameo of 33 runs off 16 balls helped them reach 127/9.

In the chase, Abhishek Sharma (31 off 13 balls) attacked Pakistan’s main bowler Shaheen Afridi (0/23 in 2 overs) with ease, while captain Suryakumar Yadav celebrated his 35th birthday by scoring an unbeaten 47 from 37 balls. India finished the target in just 15.5 overs. Tilak Varma (31 off 31) also played an important role along with Abhishek.

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