Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson voiced his disappointment after Indian players declined to engage in the customary post-match handshakes following their Asia Cup Group A clash in Dubai on Sunday, saying his team had expected the gesture regardless of the result.
“We were ready to shake hands. Disappointed the opposition didn’t do that,” Hesson said at the post-match press conference, underlining that Pakistan regarded the handshake as a traditional show of respect between rivals.
“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, and a match we were disappointed with the way we played, but we were certainly willing to shake hands,” he added.
Hesson further noted that skipper Salman Agha’s absence from the presentation ceremony was a “follow-on effect” of India’s refusal to shake hands. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) echoed this stance in a statement, calling India’s actions “against sportsmanship.”
The controversy overshadowed India’s commanding seven-wicket victory at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing a target of 128, captain Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 37 deliveries, alongside Shivam Dube’s 10 not out, as the team wrapped up the chase in just 15.5 overs. Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav’s 3-18 spearheaded India’s bowling effort that restricted Pakistan to 127/9.
Tensions had been apparent even before the match began, with both captains, Suryakumar and Salman Agha, skipping the customary handshake at the coin toss. After the contest, the Indian players walked off the field without the usual exchange, leaving both sides avoiding eye contact or gestures of courtesy.
Suryakumar later expressed solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and dedicated the triumph to India’s Armed Forces engaged in Operation Sindoor, saying their courage and valour had been a source of inspiration for the players.
India’s on-field dominance secured two crucial points in Group A, and they will next face Oman in their final Group stage match on Friday.