India’s controversial decision to avoid shaking hands with Pakistan players during their Asia Cup 2025 clash was reportedly planned in advance, with Gautam Gambhir and senior cricketers involved, according to Indian media reports.
The report stated that Gambhir, India’s head coach, and senior members of the squad unanimously supported the no-handshake stance before the match against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025, later securing clearance from senior figures within the BCCI.
Indian players walked straight to their dressing room after a seven-wicket win, skipping the customary handshake with Pakistan.
The act drew immediate attention, stirring political debates and mixed reactions online.
The post-match scenes drew as much attention as the game itself, as the Indian players deliberately avoided the traditional handshake with Pakistan cricketers and match officials, walking straight off the field into their dressing room.
READ: India vs Pakistan Asia Cup controversy: Here’s everything you need to know
According to reports, the dressing room doors were immediately shut, leaving Pakistan’s squad puzzled at the absence of the usual display of sportsmanship after the high-voltage encounter between the arch-rivals.
In the post match press conference, the captain while responding to the question related to hand shake controversy stated that team India is here to play the game and they did.
“I believe there are some things above sportsmen’s spirit, we are here to play the game which we did and responded,” Yadav said.
In the post-match press conference, Suryakumar Yadav said that the BCCI and the Indian government are on the same page, and that they came to play the game.
He mentioned that some things are bigger than sportsmanship. When asked about it, he expressed support for the families of the victims of the terrorist attack in Pahalgam and dedicated the victory to the Indian Armed Forces and soldiers involved in Operation Sindoor.
This incident was unique in cricket history, as players didn’t even shake hands, which is a sad moment for the sport.
