by Chanaka Perera

India’s convincing seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in their Asia Cup clash in Dubai was followed by controversy rather than celebration, as a row over handshakes dominated the post-match narrative.

The drama unfolded after the match ended, when the presentation ceremony was delayed for several minutes. While India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav and Player-of-the-Match Kuldeep Yadav attended, Pakistan’s skipper Salman Ali Agha was conspicuously absent. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later issued a statement explaining the decision.

“Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands,” the PCB said. “It was deemed unsporting and against the spirit of the game. As a protest, we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony.”

The tension reportedly began earlier in the evening. At the toss, match referee Andy Pycroft is understood to have advised Salman Agha not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart. The PCB, though unhappy with the intervention, refrained from naming Pycroft directly in their public statement. India’s players also refrained from the traditional gesture after the game, which further fuelled Pakistan’s frustration.

Adding to the intrigue, sources suggest Suryakumar had also declined to shake hands with UAE captain Muhammad Waseem during a previous fixture. However, in that instance, both teams exchanged handshakes once the game concluded, a stark contrast to the frosty scenes in Dubai.

Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson described Agha’s absence as a “flow-on” effect of India’s actions, suggesting it was less about individual decisions and more about a broader stance taken by the opposition.

Suryakumar, when asked about the matter in his press conference, gave a pointed response. “A few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit,” he said, insisting his team had “given a proper reply” to Pakistan both on and off the field.