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DUBAI: India’s seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup match at Dubai Stadium on Sunday was overshadowed by off-field drama as Indian players avoided the traditional post-match handshake.
Instead of shaking hands with their rivals, Suryakumar Yadav and his team-mate Shivam Dube shared fist bumps after scoring the winning runs, patted each other on the back, and promptly made a beeline for the dressing room.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and coach Mike Hesson then walked to the Indian camp later, but there was no player to come out.
Hesson described it as “a disappointing way for the match to end.”
“We were prepared to exchange handshakes at the end, but the opposition had already retired to the dressing room,” he said.
Pakistan, in protest, boycotted the post-match ceremony as tensions erupted in a match that was the first since May’s military crackdown.
The clashes across the border were ignited after an attack in April in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) in Pahalgam, in which 26 were killed, which India blamed on Pakistan.
A mistake with Pakistan’s anthem prior to commencement had already set the atmosphere charged.
The coach also explained Agha’s non-appearance at the traditional post-match presentation, connecting it to the incident.
“I reckon it was just a flow-on thing. We were keen to have a crack at shaking hands at the end of the game, that didn’t occur, and that was sort of the end of it,” he said.
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The team captain, Naveed Cheema, has filed a protest with the match referee Andy Pycroft after the game,” said the Pakistani team management in a release after the game.
“The Indian players’ behavior was contrary to the spirit of sportsmanship,” it continued. “That is why skipper Agha was not taken to the post-match ceremony.”
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India’s winning skipper, Suryakumar, stood by his team’s refusal to handshake with the losing Pakistani players on Sunday, explaining that it was done in line with their government and cricket board.
“We are on the same page with the government and Board of Control for Cricket in India,” said Suryakumar after helping India chase a modest Pakistani total of 128 in 15.5 overs with 47 not out.
“Some things are above sportsmanship. Is it really sportsmanship if you do not even shake hands with the other side? That was our answer.”
The question of a handshake had also arisen earlier when Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha refused to shake hands at the toss.
New Delhi defied the demands to boycott the match and authorized the team to play Pakistan only in multi-national competitions.
India, with two wins out of two, are well on their way to the next Super Fours level of the competition from their remaining group fixture against Oman on Friday.
Pakistan face the UAE next Wednesday and despite losing to India, should make the next level.
