Indian players walked off without offering an on-field handshake to their Pakistan counterparts following a seven-wicket win in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A encounter in Dubai.
Skipper Suryakumar Yadav scored an unbeaten 47 off 37 balls to set up a facile win for India, after which he and non-striker Shivam Dube appeared to walk off the field without the customary greeting.
The India-Pakistan encounter in the continental tournament has been marred by controversy since the conflict between the two neighbours in late April 2025.
The two sides ceased playing bilateral cricket in the last decade, sticking only to ACC and ICC-organised tournaments since. But, there was a renewed call to boycott all forms of cricket between the two countries after the most recent conflict.
The Union government had stated that the country would have no bilateral sporting link with Pakistan in its policy released in August.
However, India will not hesitate to play Pakistan or compete in a tournament in which the team figures if it is part of a continental or global event, the policy said.
Published on Sep 14, 2025
