Dubai: After Indian cricketers refused to shake hands with Pakistan players the day after their Asia Cup match, Pakistan lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) called the indian players conduct “unsporting” and escalating tensions between the two nations, Maktoob Media reported.
PCB said in a statement that the Indian team’s gesture went against the spirit of the game, after Suryakumar Yadav-led India made a cakewalk victory of seven wickets against Pakistan.
According to PCB, Pakistan team manager Naveed Cheema lodged the protest against the Indian player’s behaviour. According to the Pak cricketing board, in protest to the conduct, the Pak team did not send their captain to the post-match ceremony.
Meanwhile, Suryakumar Yadav justified his squad's act, saying that it was a mark of solidarity with the families of victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. It is noted that even at the toss, the Indian captain did not interact with the Pakistan captain, Salman Ali Agha.
Further, Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said that though his side wanted to shake hands, the Indian team did not.
PCB alleged that the match referee, Andy Pycroft, instructed the Pakistani captain not to shake hands with his Indian counterpart. The board called the directive against the spirit of the game.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra used the instance to further slam the BJP-led government in the Centre. She wrote on X, “We played Pakistan because Govt of India wanted it. Get that very clear. To then make a cheap churlish spectacle by not shaking Pakistan hand post-match is laughable.”
Journalist Rana Ayyub said, “All the fellow actors of Diljit Dosanjh who mocked and derided him for featuring a Pakistani actress in a film are silent over the India–Pakistan match today. The Twitter patriots will be glued to their TV sets this evening, the test of patriotism is only for the ‘others',” Maktoob Media quoted.