The Indian Cricket Team will play against the Pakistan Cricket Team yet again in the Super Four match of the Asia Cup 2025 on September 21. The Men In Blue are likely to continue with their 'No-Handshake' policy with Pakistan players and personnel, just as they did in the group stage match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.
What happened in the group stage match?
The match was the first time that both sides met after the Pahalgam Terror Attack, which was carried out by a terror outfit based in Pakistan. As a retaliation, the Indian armed forces launched a military attack on the base camps of the terrorists, which in turn led to both armies clashing on the border.
Pakistan have strategically carried out cross-border terrorism against India, while the Indian government and the BCCI have not engaged in any bilateral series with the Men In Green and also refused to travel to Pakistan for any kind of multination tournaments. They currently face off against each other only in ACC or ICC tournaments in India or at a neutral venue.
However, after the Pahalgam incident happened, there was a strong wave across the nation which wanted the Men In Blues not to play against Pakistan in any kind of cricket match, but still, this Asia Cup 2025 game went forward. Indian players were serious right from the start of the game as captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha at the toss, and the Indian players and support staff also went ahead to not shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the match.
This decision was explained by the Indian captain as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the Indian Armed Forces. India comfortably defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the group stage match at the Dubai International Stadium. After Pakistan posted a target of 127 runs for nine wickets in 20 overs, India chased it down in just 15.5 overs with the help of notable contributions from Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, and Captain Suryakumar Yadav.
Aftermath and controversy:
Following the no-handshake incident, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officially complained to the International Cricket Council (ICC), and accused the match referee Andy Pycroft of misconduct and demanded his removal from the tournament. The PCB alleged that Pycroft had advised their captain not to shake hands with the Indian team captain and also prevented the exchange of team sheets before the match. However, the ICC rejected Pakistan's claim and reiterated that Pycroft had not violated any rules.
The BCCI defended India's stance, arguing that handshakes are a gesture of goodwill, and given the strained relations between the two countries, the Indian players were not obligated to extend the gesture. The BCCI and the team management had decided not to shake hands after considering the domestic protests in India over playing against Pakistan.
The upcoming Super Four match:
India and Pakistan are set to meet again in the Super Four stage of the Asia Cup 2025 on September 21, at the Dubai International Stadium. It is anticipated that India will continue their policy of not shaking hands with Pakistan during the upcoming match as well. This decision will likely continue to be a point of discussion and controversy as the cricketing rivalry between the two nations takes on an additional layer of diplomatic complexity.
