Indian Players Uphold National Pride, Pakistan Rattled Over Handshake Refusal

September 15, 2025 – Pakistan has formally lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) following India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players after their Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai on Sunday night.

The Incident

Following India’s commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates broke with cricket tradition by refusing to engage in the customary post-match handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts. The Indian players immediately walked off the field after their win, avoiding the usual gesture of sportsmanship.

Pakistan’s Official Response

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) issued a strongly-worded statement late Sunday night, condemning the Indian team’s actions. Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged the formal protest, with the PCB calling India’s behavior “unsporting and against the spirit of the game.”

As a mark of protest, Pakistan captain Salman Agha boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony. The PCB statement read: “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.”

India’s Justification

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav defended the decision during the post-match press conference, stating that the move was planned and had the backing of both the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government.

The Indian team cited solidarity with victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack as their reason for the unprecedented gesture. Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian armed forces and stated: “Our government and BCCI were aligned… We gave proper reply.”

The decision appears to be connected to the ongoing tensions between the two nations following the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which has significantly strained India-Pakistan relations in recent months.

Background Context

The handshake controversy comes amid heightened diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan following the 2025 Pahalgam attack. The incident has led to accusations and counter-accusations between the two nations, with India accusing Pakistan of supporting cross-border terrorism while Pakistan has rejected these claims.

This was the first meeting between the cricket teams since the escalation of tensions, making the match highly anticipated but also politically charged.

Reactions and Criticism

Former Pakistani cricketers have criticized India’s decision, with ex-fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar commenting on PTV Sports: “Match ko political na banao (Don’t bring politics into sports).” Fellow former cricketer Rashid Latif also expressed disapproval of mixing politics with cricket.

The incident has sparked debate about whether political tensions should influence sporting conduct and traditional gestures of sportsmanship in cricket.

Official Protest Details

Pakistan’s team manager registered the formal protest with the ICC-accredited match referee, alleging that the umpires had inappropriately allowed the Indian players to leave the field without completing the traditional handshakes. According to Pakistani officials, the match referee later apologized after the protest was lodged.

The Asian Cricket Council has yet to respond to Pakistan’s formal complaint, and it remains unclear what action, if any, will be taken regarding the incident.

Impact on Cricket Diplomacy

This controversy marks a significant departure from cricket’s traditional emphasis on sportsmanship and has raised questions about the role of politics in international cricket. The incident is likely to further strain cricketing relations between the two neighboring nations, who have a history of using cricket as both a diplomatic tool and a flashpoint for broader tensions.

The fallout from this incident may have implications for future bilateral cricket series and tournaments involving both teams, as cricket has historically served as one of the few remaining channels for engagement between India and Pakistan despite political differences.