Asia Cup 2025: Suryakumar Yadav Again Refuses Handshake With Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav once again avoided a customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha during the toss of the high-voltage ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 Super Four clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

After winning the toss, Suryakumar opted to bowl first but walked straight past Salman Ali Agha to join Ravi Shastri for the pre-match discussion. In response, the Pakistan captain mirrored the gesture, further fueling the ongoing controversy.

The tension dates back to the group-stage encounter, where the Indian skipper was accused of crossing “all boundaries of sportsmanship” by dragging politics into his post-match speech — remarks many described as “unprecedented” and “damaging for the spirit of the game.”

Reports suggest that the refusal to shake hands was influenced by match referee Andy Pycroft, who later admitted to mishandling the situation and expressed regret to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). The PCB had even considered withdrawing from the tournament before the issue was temporarily resolved.

Despite the apology, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has yet to launch a formal inquiry, leaving the PCB dissatisfied. The controversy also led to Pakistan cancelling its scheduled pre-match press conference without explanation.

On the field, India enters the Super Four unbeaten after three group-stage wins, while Pakistan advanced with victories over UAE and Oman but suffered a one-sided defeat to India last Sunday. Their September 14 match in Dubai ended in a seven-wicket win for India, followed by another refusal to exchange handshakes — a move that angered Pakistan in light of already strained political relations between the two nations.