Handshake Row Escalates: Pakistan Lodges Formal Protest Against India Players
The “no handshake” controversy that marred the end of the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash on Sunday has escalated, with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodging a formal protest with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) against the Indian team’s conduct . The complaint centers on the Indian players’ refusal to engage in the customary post-match handshakes, a move Pakistan has labeled as “unsporting” and against the spirit of the game .
The tension was palpable even before the match began, with Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Ali Agha forgoing the traditional handshake at the toss, reportedly on the advice of match referee Andy Pycroft . The situation reached a boiling point after India’s seven-wicket victory, when the Indian team, led by Yadav, walked directly to their dressing room, leaving the Pakistani players waiting on the field for the customary exchange of pleasantries . In a further sign of protest, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony .
The PCB’s statement confirmed that their team manager had lodged a “strong protest,” and they also took issue with the match referee’s initial advice . “The match referee Andy Pycroft had asked captain Salman Ali Agha, at the time of the toss, not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart.
The Pakistan team management has lodged a protest, calling the behaviour against the spirit of sports,” the PCB statement reportedly said . The protest essentially accuses India of flouting the ICC’s code of conduct, which emphasizes respect for opponents and congratulating them on their success as central tenets of the “Spirit of Cricket” .
For his part, Suryakumar Yadav defended his team’s actions, stating that the decision was a collective one made in solidarity with the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and to honor the armed forces involved in “Operation Sindoor” . The ACC is now expected to review the complaint, adding another layer of controversy to the already politically charged rivalry.
