Dubai, United Arab Emirates – The ongoing widespread political impact between India and Pakistan has led to controversial conclusions of the Arch Rivals cricket match at the Asian Cup 2025 in Dubai.
When Group A on Sunday confirmed equipment among the Great Clergy of South Asia after a lengthy deliberation from the Indian government, fans and experts hoped that the action on the field would help cool off the heat in the off-field.
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However, Yadav crushed all expectations by saying that the team’s seven-wicket victory in the T20 match was a “perfect reply” to Pakistan in the wake of a fierce four-day cross-border conflict that reached the brink of a national war in May.
“We (Indian) government and the BCCI (Indian Cricket Committee) were in line with the decision to play this match. We came here just to play the match and gave them the perfect reply (Pakistan),” Yadav told the media right after the match.
What happened at the end of the India vs Pakistan match?
After hitting the winning run in India, Yadav walked the field with his batting partner, Shivam Dube, without approaching the Pakistani captain and team for a traditional post-match handshake.
Pakistani players jumped down in groups and waited for the Indian team and support staff to come out and shake hands.
But the Indian condition was simply to step into the dressing room and shake hands with each other before closing the door as the waiting Pakistani players were watching.
There are no handshakes between teams. Salman Aga appeared to lead Pakistan to the Indian dressing room, but he did nothing. They all headed straight at #indvpak pic.twitter.com/0bbjtydkaf
– Paul Radley (@paulradley) September 14, 2025
Why did the Indian team refuse to shake hands with Pakistani players?
The Indian captain was asked to clarify what his team’s actions were and whether they contradicted the spirit of the sport.
“Something in life lies in the spirit of a sportsman,” the 35-year-old responded quickly.
“We stand with all the victims and families of the Pahargam terrorist attacks and dedicate this victory to the brave army who took part in Operation Sindoah.”
Yadav had mentioned multiple missile attacks by Indian forces at six locations within Pakistan.
India said the missile was in response to the April 22 attack on India-controlled Kashmir tourists in Pahargam, where 26 men were killed. An armed group called the Resistance Front (TRF), which calls for Kashmir’s independence, claimed responsibility for the attack, but India had claimed Pakistan’s involvement.
Two days later, Pakistan responded to missile strikes by attacking military facilities across India and India-controlled Kashmir and frontiers, hitting at least four facilities.
The conflict ended four days later, thanks to an internationally mediated ceasefire.
While the exchange of air fires stopped, diplomatic ties between neighbors remained halted, and political tensions spilled over cricket when supplies between India and Pakistan were announced by the Asian Cricket Council (ACC).
Did India break the rules by not shaking hands?
As a result, the match took place under a highly charged political situation, with the focus quickly shifting to interactions between teams when both captains did not indulge in the conventional handshake in a pre-match toss.
However, Al Jazeera knew that Andy Paicroft, the referee of the match, asked Yadav and his counterpart, Aga, to skip the pre-ritual.
“The referees in the match requested that both captains not shake hands with toss,” an official from Pakistan’s Cricket Board (PCB) asked for anonymity and told Al Jazeera after the match.
According to the encounter, match officials also granted India permission to skip handshakes after the match, but sources said they did not notify AGHA or his team.
This has led to a seemingly troublesome post-match scenario, simply watching Pakistani players chase Yadav off the pitch, wait for the Indians to come out and close the doors in the dressing room.
How did Pakistan respond?
Pakistan’s manager Akram Cheema has filed a protest against the actions of the Indian cricket team with Pycroft, a certified match referee of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
“The referees allowed the Indians to leave the field without waving their apologies after the team manager’s protest,” the official said.
Furthermore, Pakistani Captain Aga did not speak in a sign of protest in a chat with the captain’s host broadcasting station after the match.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson refused to take part in the talks, confirming that the media briefing was a “subsequential effect” of the Indian team’s actions.
“We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game, but our opposition didn’t do that,” Hesson said.
“We went over there to shake hands and they were already in the changing room.”
Why is handshake important in cricket and what is the protocol?
According to cricket standards, two field players on the team shake hands with the Fielding team and the referee before walking off.
And in what is common practice in all international cricket matches, the batting team goes to the ground and shakes hands with the enemy.
It provides both sides to end the match with friendly notes and exchange words of encouragement.
Similarly, the captains of both teams will shake hands before a toss that takes place 30 minutes before the start of play.
The toss is made by the match umpire on the pitch and is usually broadcast live.
Both the captain and the match umpire can also indulge in pre-match chats on the team’s lineup and other issues of mutual interest between the two teams.
The referee of the match may meet the captain, head coach or manager of either team before the match.
What did the tournament officials say about the incident?
The move was lamented by ACC Chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the PCB.
“I am totally disappointed to witness today’s lack of sportsmanship,” Naqvi said in a post on X.
“Drag politics into the game is against the spirit of sports.”
I am totally disappointed to witness today’s lack of sportsmanship. Dragging politics into the game is against the spirit of sports. I hope that future victory will be celebrated by all teams with grace
– Mohsin Naqvi (@mohsinnaqvic42) September 14, 2025
Al Jazeera reached out to the ACC for comments about the revelation that both captains were asked not to shake hands with toss.
The ACC has not responded to the request yet.
Pakistan and India could meet again at the Asian Cup if both teams qualify for Super Four Stage.
India has almost all qualifying after winning two matches, but Pakistan will face the UAE on Wednesday with must-see fixtures.
If both teams win their respective games, the Super Four match will take place in Dubai on Sunday.
