Indian Team Skips Handshakes with Pakistan in Tense Asia Cup Clash, Sourav Ganguly Backs the Move
In a charged India-Pakistan showdown at the T20 Asia Cup, the Indian cricket team made headlines by walking off the field without the usual post-match handshakes. Former Indian captain Sourav Ganguly stepped in to defend the decision, saying the players did what felt right amid the high tensions.
The drama unfolded after India’s comfortable seven-wicket victory on Sunday. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav and batting partner Shivam Dube simply headed back to the dressing room, skipping the traditional gestures with the Pakistan side. Suryakumar dedicated the win to India’s armed forces and stood in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attacks. This was the first India-Pakistan match since those April attacks, followed by India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan-backed terrorism, which kept emotions running high.
Team India faced criticism just for playing in the tournament, but they delivered on the field. They bowled Pakistan out for 127/9 and chased it down easily, thanks to brilliant knocks from Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma. The win added another thrilling chapter to the legendary India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.
Speaking to , Sourav Ganguly shared his thoughts on the no-handshake moment. "The team did what they thought was best," he said. "Terrorism should never happen—whether in India, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, or Qatar. What we saw in Bangladesh can’t be allowed. Sports is separate from all this. Not everyone plays cricket; most victims are ordinary people, not athletes. So, this kind of violence has to stop."
The controversy didn’t end there. Asian Cricket Council President and former Pakistan player Mohsin Naqvi slammed the match referee, Andy Pycroft, for mishandling the situation. Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), posted on X (formerly Twitter) that the PCB had filed a complaint with the ICC. They accused Pycroft of breaching the ICC Code of Conduct and the spirit of cricket as per Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws. The PCB demanded his immediate removal from the Asia Cup duties.
On the Pakistan side, skipper Salman Agha skipped the post-match presentation entirely. Instead, head coach Mike Hesson stepped in for the press conference, keeping things low-key after the loss.
This Asia Cup encounter has sparked debates on sports, politics, and cricket etiquette. Fans are buzzing about how India-Pakistan matches always deliver edge-of-the-seat action, even off the field. Stay tuned for more updates on the tournament!
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