The high-stakes Asia Cup 2025 Group A match between India and Pakistan in Dubai on September 14, 2025, ended in a dramatic seven-wicket victory for India, but the post-match scene stole the headlines due to a major handshake controversy. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his teammates skipped the customary handshakes with the Pakistani players, both at the toss and after the game, citing directives from the BCCI and the Indian government.
This move, rooted in solidarity with victims of the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack—blamed on Pakistan-backed militants—has drawn sharp reactions from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), which lodged a formal protest. However, the BCCI has firmly backed its team, emphasizing that handshakes are merely a tradition, not a mandatory rule, delivering a pointed rebuff to Pakistan’s complaints.
India chased down Pakistan’s modest total of 127/9 in just 15.5 overs, with Yadav remaining unbeaten on 47 off 37 balls, including a match-winning six. Kuldeep Yadav starred with the ball, taking 3/18 to dismantle Pakistan’s batting. Post-victory, Yadav and batting partner Shivam Dube walked straight off the field without approaching the opposition, while Pakistan’s players, led by captain Salman Agha and coach Mike Hesson, waited in vain near the Indian dugout. Agha, visibly disappointed, boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony in protest.
The tension began at the toss, where match referee Andy Pycroft instructed both captains to skip the handshake, a decision that PCB claims violated the spirit of cricket. Hesson called the no-handshake a “disappointing way to finish the match,” while Yadav defended the stance, stating, “Our government and the BCCI were aligned… We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and their families. Some things in life are ahead of sportsmanship.”
In response, PCB registered a formal complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and International Cricket Council (ICC), accusing India of unsportsmanlike conduct and demanding Pycroft’s removal. They also suspended their Director of International Cricket Operations, Usman Wahla, for not addressing the issue promptly. Pakistan’s team manager approached the match referee, highlighting the snub as a breach of ICC codes.
The BCCI, speaking through a senior official to PTI, dismissed the protests, clarifying, “Handshake is just a tradition, not a rule. It is a matter of goodwill, not law.” The board emphasized that no ICC or MCC laws mandate post-match handshakes, positioning the gesture as optional, especially amid strained bilateral ties following the April military clashes between the two nations. This stance aligns with India’s broader policy of limited sporting engagements with Pakistan, allowing participation only in ICC/ACC events while avoiding bilateral series.
The controversy underscores the deepening political rift spilling into cricket, the first India-Pakistan encounter since the Pahalgam attack that killed 26 people and triggered cross-border hostilities. With India now virtually through to the Super Fours, the incident has amplified calls in India for a boycott of future matches, while Pakistan views it as a diplomatic slight. The ACC is yet to issue an official response, but BCCI’s firm support signals no repercussions for the Indian team.
