The much-anticipated Asia Cup clash between India and Pakistan in Dubai ended not only with India’s dominant seven-wicket victory, but also with renewed signs of political strain spilling into sport. No handshakes were exchanged between players before or after the match, a gesture that traditionally marks mutual respect and sportsmanship, but was conspicuously absent amid the current diplomatic freeze between the two countries.
The decision, made by the Indian team in consultation with the BCCI and aligned with Indian government policy, came in the wake of escalating hostilities between the two nations earlier this year. Following a terror attack in Pahalgam in April that killed 26 civilians, India carried out missile strikes across the border, to which Pakistan responded with retaliatory attacks on Indian military sites. Although the conflict was contained through an internationally brokered ceasefire, the political atmosphere has remained tense.
“Our government and BCCI, we were aligned today,” Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the post-match press conference. “We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply.”
When asked if the move violated the spirit of the sport, he responded, “Few things in life are ahead of sportsman spirit also. We stand with all the victims of the Pahalgam terror attacks, stand with their families, and express our solidarity.”
The refusal appeared to take Pakistan by surprise. Head coach Mike Hesson said his team was left waiting on the pitch after the match, only to realise the Indian players had returned to the dressing room.
“We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game; we obviously are disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that,” Hesson said. “We sort of went over there to shake hands, and they’d already gone into the changing room. That was a disappointing way for the match to finish.”
Pakistan captain Salman Agha refused to take part in the post-match presentation, which is a routine broadcast requirement. Hesson confirmed his absence was a “follow-on effect” of India’s actions.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later issued a statement confirming that team manager Naveed Akram Cheema had lodged a formal protest with match referee Andy Pycroft, claiming the referee had told both captains not to shake hands at the toss.
“The match referee requested the captains not to shake hands during the toss,” the PCB said in its statement. It added that Pakistan were not informed in advance about India’s plan to avoid post-match handshakes, which led to confusion and visible disappointment on the field.
An anonymous PCB official told Al Jazeera that “the umpires had allowed the Indians to walk off the field without shaking hands, for which the match referee apologised after the protest of our team manager.”
ACC chairman and PCB head Mohsin Naqvi also voiced his disapproval, saying on X (formerly Twitter), “Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sports.”
Former Pakistani fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar criticised India’s stance, calling it unnecessary and political. “I’m speechless. It is disheartening to see, and I don’t know what to say. Hats off to India. Just don’t make things political. It is a cricket match, don’t make it political,” he said.
Akhtar added, “We have said nice things about you. We can say a lot of things about the handshake. Fights happen, even inside your house. Forget it, move on. It is the game of cricket, shake your hands, show your grace.”
Pakistan has not held back either, filing a complaint to the ACC against match referee Andy Pycroft calling for his removal from the panel of referees. If demands are not met, the team has threatened to pull out of their next game against UAE.
“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also leads the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), said in a social media statement on Monday.
This incident reflects how deeply entrenched political divides can seep into sporting contests. While players may be bound by institutional decisions, their body language and actions speak volumes. India’s withdrawal from the traditional handshake was not merely symbolic; it was a statement, one that prioritised political alignment over sporting niceties.
Looking ahead, the fallout from this match may have broader implications. Bilateral cricket between India and Pakistan is already non-existent, restricted to multilateral tournaments like the Asia Cup and ICC events. The current atmosphere makes even those engagements more fragile. If political directives continue to override standard sportsmanship, even multilateral encounters could become increasingly difficult to host or manage without controversy.
Where does this leave countries like Bangladesh?
As a close neighbour to both nations, Bangladesh is in a precarious position. Politically, it maintains delicate ties with both India and Pakistan. In cricketing terms, it stands to lose if heightened tensions derail regional tournaments.
Bangladesh has frequently hosted tri-series and regional events, often acting as a neutral ground. But with political stakes rising, the Asia Cup scenario raises concerns about whether such events can continue without becoming diplomatic minefields. The Bangladesh Cricket Board may now find itself having to navigate between political sensitivities and the spirit of the game.
In the end, the game was played and won, but the message sent from the field was louder than the scoreboard. Cricket, once called a gentleman’s game, is now caught in the crossfire of regional politics. And unless clearer boundaries are drawn between diplomacy and sport, every match risks becoming a battleground for something far beyond the game.
