India smoothly cruised towards the seven-wicket win against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. But what stirred a controversy was India refused to shake hands as both Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube went straight to towards the changing room, leaving Pakistan waiting in field.
The Indian team ignored the customary handshake and even though Pakistan skipper Salman Agha and head coach Mike Hesson waited near the Indian team area, no one showed up to shake hands.
What turned heads was the absence of Pakistan skipper Salman Agha from the post-match presentation. He skipped it and was no where to be found following which the Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson explained his absence from the field.
“I think it’s just a flow and effect of the fact that we were keen to engage and shake hands at the end of the match. I wish that didn’t happen. That’s pretty much the end of it,” he said.
The Pakistan team struggled from the very start and failed to gain momentum, as the Indian team stopped them at a mere score of 127 runs. But it was not the defeat rather it was the refusal to shake hands that left the head coach Mike Hesson and Salman Agha visibly frustrated.
