Suryakumar Yadav Ignores Pakistan Captain at Toss as ‘Handshake Row’ Continues

The bitter off-field tensions between India and Pakistan spilled onto the pitch yet again on Sunday as Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Ali Agha brutally ignored each other at the toss for their Asia Cup 2025 Super 4s clash in Dubai . In a moment thick with animosity, Suryakumar refused to even look at Agha, with both captains avoiding any form of acknowledgment as they spoke to the broadcaster, continuing the “no handshake” policy that has defined their recent encounters .

As expected, the customary handshake between the skippers was absent . The captains walked out at different times and maintained their distance throughout the toss ceremony, a clear continuation of the hostility from their group stage match . India won the toss and opted to bowl first, bringing back Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakaravarthy into the playing XI . Despite the palpable tension, Suryakumar downplayed the significance of the encounter, calling it “just another game” for his team .

The cold war between the two teams began after their first meeting in the tournament when the Indian players, led by Suryakumar, refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following a seven-wicket victory . This act led to a major diplomatic flare-up, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodging a complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft and threatening to pull out of the tournament if he was not removed . The ICC stood by its official, and although the PCB did not follow through on its threat, the acrimony has clearly persisted .

In the pre-match chat, both captains tried to project a sense of normalcy. While Suryakumar described the mood as “quite normal,” Agha stated his team’s camp was also “very normal” and focused on the new game . However, the icy interaction at the toss told a different story, underscoring the deep rift that has turned this cricketing rivalry into a personal and political battleground