Pakistan cricket team has lodged a protest with the Asian Cricket Council after the Indian team snubbed them and did not shake hands during their Asia Cup encounter on Sunday in Dubai. Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav had also not offered a handshake to his Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha during the toss. Later on in the press conference, Yadav had explained his decision: “I feel few things in life are ahead of sportsmen’s spirit also.”
These gestures have angered the Pakistan side enough for them to lodge a protest over the Indian players’ refusal to shake hands with them. Agha had also skipped his post-match press conference in protest. In the game, Pakistan were handed a seven-wicket defeat by India.
A statement from the Pakistan team said: “Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed as unsporting and against the spirit of the game. As a protest we did not send our captain to the post match ceremony.”
The two teams were facing each other in a cricket match for the first time since the Pahalgam terrorist attack earlier this year, which led to 26 Indians being killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists. India had retaliated with Operation Sindoor.
In his post-match chat with the broadcasters, Yadav had said: “This is the perfect occasion (to state that) we stand by the victims of the families of Pahalgam terror attack. We express our solidarity. Want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery. Hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground whenever we get an opportunity to put a smile on their face.”
India coach Gautam Gambhir had also echoed his skipper’s words in a chat with the broadcasters.
“The match was important for us because as a team we wanted to show our solidarity to the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. For everything they have gone through. More importantly, we want to thank our armed forces for their successful Operation Sindoor, and I’m sure we will try and make our country proud and happy,” Gambhir said to the Sony Sports Network.
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While Agha did not attend the press conference, Pakistan coach Mike Hesson turned up where he said: “We wanted to shake hands (with the Indian team) but were disappointed that the opposition didn’t do that. Disappointed with the way we played, but we wanted to shake hands. Salman not coming for the post-match presentation was cause and effect after what happened.”
