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Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian cricket team once again stood dominant over Pakistan when they locked horns in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A clash at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium in Dubai on Sunday, September 14. Coming to the match after a convincing nine-wicket win over UAE, Team India thumped their authority over their near neighbours.
While the win was crucial as an answer to a lot of silent attempts, the match was also marred with several controversies. In one of them, Team India snubbing a customary handshake post-match took the limelight away from the game and has got several former cricketers buzzing. Amidst this, former Pakistan cricketer and pace sensation, Shoaib Akhtar also opened.
Cricket match hain, isko political mat banao: Akhtar on India’s handshake snub with Pakistan
With the videos going viral of the Indian support staff closing team’s dressing room after players entry, it left their counterparts stranded on the field, who were waiting for that ritual. While Mike Hesson too addressed this in the post-match press conference, the Rawalpindi Express also voiced his opinions while adding that such things shouldn’t be turned into political moves.
“I’m speechless. It is disheartening to see and I don’t know what to say. Hats off to India. Just don’t make things political. Cricket match hain, isko political mat banao…. Fights happen, even inside your house. Forget it, move on. It is the game of cricket, shake hands, show your grace,” Akhtar said.
The former cricketer was also of the opinion that Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha was right to skip post-match ceremony. In an interview on a television show, he added, “Thik kiya Salman Ali Agha ne, who nahi gaya post match mein, good.” While the matches of the two teams are known to be among the fiercest rivalries on the cricket field, the gestures which came on Sunday, were as a mark of protest of the Indian team over the Pahalgam terror attacks.
