A post-match controversy has erupted following India’s emphatic win over Pakistan in their Asia Cup 2025 group-stage clash in Dubai on Sunday, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) accusing the Indian team of a deliberate breach of sportsmanship.
According to the PCB, members of the Pakistan team were snubbed when they attempted to shake hands with Indian players after the match.
In a particularly symbolic moment, some Pakistani cricketers reportedly walked up to the Indian dressing room to extend handshakes, only to find the door shut in their faces.
The gesture, or lack thereof, has prompted Pakistan to lodge a formal protest against Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi strongly condemned the act, labelling it as devoid of sportsmanship.
In a post on social media, Naqvi accused India of politicising the game, stating: "Utterly disappointed by the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports. Let's hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace."
India dominated the match, with standout performances from Suryakumar Yadav, Abhishek Sharma, and Kuldeep Yadav. However, the on-field triumph was quickly overshadowed by the off-field incident.
In protest, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha boycotted the customary post-match presentation ceremony. A PCB statement confirmed the formal complaint, adding: "Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against the 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."
Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav later explained that the team’s decision was a gesture of solidarity with the families of those killed in the Pahalgam terrorist attack in April.
Sunday's encounter marked the first time the two arch-rivals faced off on the cricket field since the deadly attack in Kashmir and India’s subsequent cross-border military operation, codenamed ‘Operation Sindoor’, in May.
India’s comprehensive victory on the pitch was clear-cut, but the diplomatic fallout that followed now threatens to cast a long shadow over the remainder of the tournament.
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