Shahid Afridi Slams India Over No-Handshake Row
The Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan has sparked a new storm, not only for the on-field action but also for what happened—or rather, what did not happen—after the game. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi has strongly criticized India’s refusal to exchange handshakes with their arch-rivals, calling it a poor reflection of sportsmanship on the international stage.
According to Afridi, the pressure that built up on social media in the days leading to the high-profile clash played a major role. He said that Indian fans flooded platforms with boycott campaigns, demanding their team avoid any gestures of camaraderie with Pakistan players. “When the Asia Cup began, social media was filled with the boycott campaigns ahead of the match between India and Pakistan. Considering there was pressure, it is no surprise that the players and the BCCI were told not to shake hands with our team,” Afridi remarked during a television appearance on Samaa TV.
PCB Reacts Strongly to Referee’s Role
The Pakistan Cricket Board did not let the matter pass quietly. The board threatened to pull out of the tournament altogether if the International Cricket Council failed to take action against match referee Andy Pycroft. According to PCB officials, Pycroft himself instructed Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha to skip the traditional handshake with Suryakumar Yadav during the toss. The claim has added another layer of tension to an already politically sensitive fixture.
Following India’s victory in Dubai, Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the Indian Armed Forces. He emphasized that the players stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, which had shocked the nation earlier in the year. His words only added fuel to the debate as cricket once again became an outlet for national sentiments.
Afridi Backs PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi
Afridi was firm in backing PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the head of the Asian Cricket Council. He said, “In my opinion, there was no sportsman spirit. They would once again be shamed in front of the world. I think our stance was bang on. Our PCB chairman has taken the right stand.”
He added that he does not blame Indian cricketers individually but pointed toward directives from higher authorities. “I have always said that players should be great ambassadors and not an embarrassment. I don’t want to fault the Indian cricketers; they were given orders from up above,” Afridi noted.
With both cricket boards and former players weighing in, the no-handshake controversy has become bigger than the match itself, underlining how deeply politics and sports remain intertwined whenever India and Pakistan share the field.
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