A diplomatic stir has emerged in the world of cricket following the recent Asia Cup clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan in Dubai. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally lodged a strong protest with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) regarding an incident after the match where Indian players reportedly refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
In a statement released late Sunday night (September 14, 2025), the PCB vehemently criticized India’s post-match conduct, branding it as “unsporting” and “against the spirit of the game.” As a direct consequence of this perceived slight, Pakistan opted not to send their captain to the official post-match ceremony.
When questioned about the incident, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav clarified that the team’s decision to forgo handshakes was a gesture of solidarity with the families of victims from the tragic Pahalgam terrorist attack that occurred in April. This highly anticipated match marked the first time these two cricketing giants had met on the field since that devastating attack in Kashmir and India’s subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor’ against terror infrastructure across the border in May.
Despite the off-field tension, the match itself saw India deliver a dominant performance, securing a decisive seven-wicket victory and comprehensively outplaying Pakistan in all aspects of the game.