Pakistan captain Salman Agha did not hold back after his side’s narrow Asia Cup final defeat in Dubai, accusing India of setting “a very bad example” by avoiding handshakes and, eventually, the winners’ ceremony.
“What India have done this tournament is very disappointing,” Agha told reporters. “They’re not disrespecting us by not shaking hands, they’re disrespecting cricket. Good teams don’t do what they did today.”
Sunday’s match itself was a thriller, settled off the penultimate ball, yet the talking point came after the last run was scored. More than 90 minutes passed before the presentation began. During that time, India declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president – and current PCB chairman – Mohsin Naqvi. Pakistan’s players queued up anyway, took their medals and posed alone for photographers.
Agha stressed his frustration lay with the Indian camp as a collective, not with opposite number Suryakumar Yadav. “He shook hands with me in private at the start of the tournament,” the Pakistan skipper said. “Both at the pre-tournament press conference, and when we met in the referee’s meeting. But when they’re out in the world in front of the cameras, they don’t shake our hands. I’m sure he’s following the instructions he’s been given, but if it was up to him, he’d shake hands with me.”
Pre-match and post-match handshakes are routine in international cricket – they stand alongside the cap presentation or the pre-series photo as part of the sport’s basic etiquette. Agha, therefore, called the refusal “detrimental to the spirit of cricket”. He added: “This is the first time I’ve ever seen this happen. Whatever happened in this tournament was very bad, and I hope it stops at some stage because it’s bad for cricket.”
As for the photo-call, Indian players stood to one side and briefly pretended to lift an imaginary trophy. Agha felt that scene flowed directly from the earlier snubs: “Everything that happened today was a consequence of all that happened [before]. Of course the ACC president will give the trophy to the winners. If you won’t take the trophy from him, how will you get it?”
Television pundits had already been hard on Pakistan’s on-field work. “Clueless batting from Pakistan,” observed Aakash Chopra, while Varun Aaron and Urooj Mumtaz voiced similar concerns during the innings break. Agha acknowledged the criticism yet argued it was overshadowed by the broader conduct issue.
“I’m not just a Pakistan captain, I’m a cricket fan,” he said. “If a kid’s watching in India or Pakistan, we’re not sending them a good message. People think of us as role models, but if we’re behaving like this, we’re not inspiring them.”
From a purely tactical viewpoint, the final balanced on a few late overs. India’s top order set the base with calculated hitting – nothing reckless, mainly working the gaps – before Pakistan clawed back through tight death bowling. Still, a couple of full tosses slipped past the field and allowed India to scrape home. The margin highlights how little separated the sides on the night, making the off-field drama feel even more avoidable.
Neither board has commented formally, and tournament regulations do not compel teams to shake hands. Yet most observers consider it an unwritten rule. Former India seamer Zaheer Khan, speaking on TV after stumps, offered a measured take: “You win, you lose, but you always acknowledge the contest. That’s what fans remember, too.”
For now, the immediate focus shifts to the upcoming bilateral series. Pakistan head home to prepare for England’s visit, while India return for their domestic season. Whether the two nations meet again before next year’s ICC T20 World Cup remains uncertain. If they do, the hope – among players, coaches, broadcasters and fans alike – is that the cricket itself reclaims centre stage.
