The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has formally lodged a protest over what it described as “unsportsmanlike behaviour” by the Indian team during last night’s ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 fixture in Dubai.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema submitted an official complaint after Indian players reportedly refused customary handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, both at the toss and at the conclusion of the group-stage match.
Tensions between the two sides were evident from the outset, when match referee Andy Pycroft allegedly instructed both captains to skip the traditional pre-match handshake. Cheema condemned the directive as “against the spirit of the game,” claiming it set a negative tone for the rest of the encounter.
The frosty atmosphere persisted after the match. Following India’s victory, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube exchanged fist bumps before heading straight to their dugout, where they greeted teammates but avoided any interaction with Pakistani players. The Men in Green, meanwhile, waited for the customary post-match handshake, only to watch the Indian squad retreat into the dressing room and shut the door.
Cheema strongly criticised the conduct, stating it violated the principles of sportsmanship and the values cricket is meant to uphold. In response, Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation as a silent protest.
Suryakumar, meanwhile, used the post-match ceremony to make politically charged remarks, an act the PCB claims contravenes the ICC Constitution.
The PCB statement emphasized that Pakistan is registering its protest in defense of sportsmanship and expects the same standard from opponents, especially in high-profile tournaments like the Asia Cup. It added that the board will continue to pursue the matter with the ACC.
With Pakistan still in contention for the Super Four stage, the controversy has injected fresh intensity into an already heated rivalry, setting the stage for another potentially contentious showdown in the latter stages of the tournament.
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The PCB is right to raise its voice. The Indian team’s behaviour looked more like an attempt to satisfy political agendas rather than facing the true spirit and reality of the field. Cricket should be kept above politics, and players must show respect for the game and opponents. Action is needed to ensure sportsmanship is not compromised in international tournaments.