As India takes on Pakistan in their second encounter in the ongoing Asia Cup in Dubai, Suryakumar Yadav maintained his stance of expressing solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack as he refused to shook hands with the Pakistani captain Salman Ali Agha at toss.

The “no handshake” stance by the Indian team has been linked to the strained relations between the two nations, particularly following the April Pahalgam terror attack, in which Pakistan-backed terrorists killed 26 individuals in India’s Palagam.

Suryakumar Yadav stated after the first match that the team’s decision was made in solidarity with the victims and their families and that they dedicated the victory to the armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor.

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How did the whole ‘no handshake’ controversy come about?

On September 14, minutes before the toss in Dubai, match referee Andy Pycroft was told by the ACC venue manager that the customary handshake between captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha would not take place.

Pycroft, surprised, passed the message to avoid an awkward on-field moment. That decision made him the focus of an immediate PCB complaint, which demanded his removal and accused him of violating the spirit of the game.

The ICC, however, rejected PCB’s claims and dismissed the request to remove Pycroft, confirming his role for the remaining matches in the tournament. Adding to their decision, the International Cricket Council further stated that Pycroft was merely conveying a message from the Asian Cricket Council’s venue manager and had not violated any code of conduct.

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Gesture draws sharp reactions from netizens

The handshake controversy drew significant attention online to become a popular attention for netizens. Social media saw mixed reactions, with some supporting Yadav’s stance and others criticizing it as unsportsmanlike. The ongoing off-field drama has added another layer of intrigue to the already intense India-Pakistan cricket rivalry.