IND vs PAK Asia Cup: PCB Protests to ACC After India–Pakistan Handshake Controversy

The Indian players' unwillingness to shake hands with Pakistan after their Asia Cup match here has exacerbated tensions between the two countries, prompting Pakistan to file a complaint with the Asian Cricket Council, calling it "unsporting."

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By Emilia Blake in Cricket
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IND vs PAK Asia Cup

Photograph: (Source: @imkpankit X)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally protested Team India's refusal to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts during their Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai, claiming that the action is unsporting and contrary to the spirit of the game. Following the Suryakumar Yadav-led team's seven-wicket victory, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) declared in a statement late on Sunday, September 14, 2025, that India's conduct went against the spirit of the game.

The PCB statement read, “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."

IND vs PAK Asia Cup Handshake Controversy:

This was the first time the two countries had met since the horrific assault in Pahalgam in April, which left many people dead. The Indian government and the BCCI had stated before the match that the Men in Blue would play Pakistan in multilateral competitions but would not make contact with each other outside of the match. In accordance with this direction, the Indian players chose to honour the Pahalgam assault victims by refusing to shake hands during their victory.

Interestingly, match referee Andy Pycroft had already told both captains that they would not be shaking hands before the toss. On the other hand, the opponents closed their dressing room after Pakistan tried to enter it after the game. Suryakumar Yadav stated post-match, "We took a team call. We had come only to play. We had given them a reply. Some things are beyond sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took part in ‘Operation Sindoor’ and stand with families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack."

For the first time after the heinous attack in Kashmir and the subsequent Indian military operation against terror infrastructure throughout Pakistan in May, the bitter rivals squared off on a cricket field. Since India outperformed Pakistan in every way, it ended up being a no-go.

Watch this space for more cricket news and updates.

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