The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has publicly protested Team India’s unwillingness to partake in customary handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts during their battle at the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai, calling the gesture unsporting and against the spirit of the game.
This was the first meeting between the two countries since the Pahalgam terror assault in April, which killed numerous people. Prior to the match, the Indian government and the BCCI stated that the Men in Blue will play Pakistan in multilateral tournaments while maintaining a no-contact policy outside of the game. Under this directive, India’s players chose not to shake hands and instead dedicated their victory to the victims of the Pahalgam incident.
Notably, match referee Andy Pycroft had advised both captains prior to the toss that handshakes would not take place. However, Pakistan’s effort to access the Indian dressing room after the match resulted in the opponents locking the doors.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson described Agha’s absence at post-match interview
At the toss, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha refrained from shaking hands with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav, following Pycroft’s instructions. However, after the match, Pakistan waited for India near the boundary rope, expecting the tradition of post-match handshakes. However, India walked straight into their dressing room, avoiding any physical engagement.
The PCB released a statement confirming that team manager Naveed Akram Cheema had lodged a formal protest.
They also noted that Salman deliberately skipped the post-match presentation ceremony in protest, since the host was also an Indian representative. Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson described Agha’s absence as a follow-on effect of India’s decision.
“Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the spirit of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony,” PCB said in a statement.
Later, Suryakumar clarified at the press conference that the decision was pre-planned and stressed that the no-handshake gesture was not personal but part of the directive.
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