Staff India delivered a highly effective assertion each on and off the sector throughout their commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan on the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai. In an unprecedented transfer that has despatched shockwaves by means of the cricketing world, captain Suryakumar Yadav and his group refused to shake arms with their Pakistani counterparts after the match, citing solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror assault.
Staff India skips submit match handshake with Pakistan after Asia Cup 2025 sport
The dramatic scenes unfolded after Suryakumar sealed the victory with a towering six, strolling straight to the dressing room with out partaking within the customary post-match handshakes. Much more putting was when Pakistani gamers approached the Indian dressing room anticipating conventional pleasantries, solely to search out the doorways firmly shut of their faces.
The handshake boycott stems from the devastating Pahalgam terror assault on April 22, 2025, the place 26 harmless vacationers had been brutally killed after being segregated based mostly on faith. The assault was perpetrated by The Resistance Entrance (TRF), an offshoot of Pakistan-backed terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. India’s subsequent navy response, codenamed Operation Sindoor, focused 9 terrorist coaching camps throughout Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir on Might 7-8, 2025.
Suryakumar was uncompromising in his post-match rationalization, stating: “We took a group name. We had come solely to play. We had given them a reply. Some issues are past sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took half in Operation Sindoor and stand with the households of the victims of the Pahalgam terror assault“. The choice was reportedly orchestrated by head coach Gautam Gambhir, who suggested gamers towards any verbal exchanges with Pakistani counterparts.
Right here’s the video:
No handshake by Indian group.
Pakistan waited for handshake however India went to the dressing room and closed the doorways.
What a humiliation by Indian group 🤣
Belt remedy for Porkis#INDvPAK #IndianCricket #INDvsPAK #indvspak2025 #AsiaCupT20 #AsiaCup #ShubmanGill #ViratKohli𓃵 pic.twitter.com/zXMXZEmiuP
— Aman (@dharma_watch) September 14, 2025
Additionally READ: “Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces”: Suryakumar Yadav on India’s dominant victory against Pakistan in Asia Cup 2025
Pakistan lodges official protest as controversy escalates
The Pakistani cricket institution responded with seen frustration and formal complaints. Captain Salman Ali Agha boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony in protest, whereas head coach Mike Hesson expressed disappointment: “We needed to shake arms however had been upset that the opposition didn’t try this. We went over there they usually had been already gone to the altering room“.
Pakistan’s group supervisor Naveed Akram Cheema filed an official criticism with match referee Andy Pycroft, calling India’s conduct “towards the spirit of sports activities“. The Pakistan Cricket Board issued a press release terming the actions as “unsportsmanlike” and confirmed that match officers had suggested towards handshakes on the toss however supplied no directive for post-match formalities.
Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who additionally heads the Pakistan Cricket Board, publicly criticized India’s conduct on social media, writing: “Totally upset by the dearth of sportsmanship at this time. Dragging politics into the sport goes towards the very spirit of sports activities“.
The match itself noticed India dominate proceedings with spinners Kuldeep Yadav (3/18) and Axar Patel (2/18) limiting Pakistan to simply 127/9. India’s chase was led by explosive opener Abhishek Sharma‘s 31 off 13 balls and captain Suryakumar’s unbeaten 47 off 37 deliveries, sealing victory with 25 balls to spare.
This incident marks the primary time in latest cricket historical past the place geopolitical tensions have so visibly manifested in on-field protocols, elevating questions in regards to the intersection of sports activities and politics in India-Pakistan encounters. The controversy has overshadowed what was in any other case a medical cricket efficiency, with the “handshake gate” changing into the first speaking level from Dubai.
Additionally READ: Asia Cup 2025: Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson hits back at India’s ‘disappointing’ refusal of post-match handshake
