Pakistan’s standout pacer Shaheen Afridi has reignited India-Pakistan cricket tensions by accusing Team India of breaking the spirit of sportsmanship at the Asia Cup 2025. His remarks during a media session in Lahore have sparked controversy about the contentious on-field behaviour seen during the continental event.
The Asia Cup 2025 was damaged by tense relations between the arch rivals. In all three India-Pakistan meetings, Indian players shunned post-match handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts. The move, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, was interpreted as a symbolic protest in response to the Pahalgam terror assault, as well as a display of support for the Indian military.
Meanwhile, Shaheen Afridi said that people across the border had breached the spirit of sportsmanship.
“People across the border have violated the spirit of sportsmanship. Our job is to play cricket, and that remains our focus. We will try to respond on the field,” Shaheen said.
Shaheen Afridi on India behaviour in Asia Cup:
“People across the border have violated the spirit of sportsmanship. Our job is to play cricket, and that remains our focus. We will try to respond on the field.”#ShaheenAfridi #PAKvIND pic.twitter.com/EWxiZXgJGJ— Shakeel Khan Khattak (@ShakeelktkKhan) January 7, 2026
The no-handshake position is merely one part of the hostile environment. Several on-field incidents occurred, including inappropriate celebrations by Pakistani players. Haris Rauf’s jet-crashing gesture and Sahibzada Farhan’s imitation of a rifle shooting celebration were highly condemned and subsequently sanctioned under the ICC Code of Conduct.
The dispute erupted after India defeated Pakistan in the Asia Cup final. The Men in Blue declined to take the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, head of the Asian Cricket Council and chairman of the PCB, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister. Naqvi apparently rejected to delegate the presentation, hence the award was not given out at all.
The awards ceremony was abruptly cut short, with India celebrating their title without the trophy on stage. Meanwhile, the arch-rivals will face off in Match No. 27 of the T20 World Cup on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo.
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