Asia Cup Fallout: Suryakumar Yadav's Handshake Snub of Pakistan Sparks Controversy, PCB Demands Action

India captain Suryakumar Yadav will continue to avoid shaking hands with his Pakistan counterpart, Salman Ali Agha, if the two teams face each other in the Super 4 stage of the Asia Cup 2025, sources told India Today. Suryakumar’s refusal to observe the customary gesture during their group-stage clash on Sunday overshadowed India’s commanding seven-wicket victory in Dubai.

According to sources, India will not face any sanction from either the Asian Cricket Council or the International Cricket Council for refusing handshakes with Pakistan players. While greeting opponents and exchanging pleasantries is encouraged under the spirit of cricket, it is not mandatory.

Defending his actions, Suryakumar said there are “a few things in life greater than sportsmanship.” The world’s No. 1 T20I batter dedicated India’s win over Pakistan to the armed forces, stressing that the team stood in solidarity with the families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

In response, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match ceremony. Head coach Mike Hesson confirmed that Salman’s absence was a “flow-on effect” of the handshake snub. Addressing the media, Hesson said Pakistan’s players were left disappointed, noting that the Men in Green had been waiting on the field expecting the customary post-match handshakes.

What might have been dismissed as a minor formality soon snowballed into a major controversy. The incident was widely interpreted as India’s symbolic message after agreeing to play Pakistan despite boycott calls in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor. Suryakumar hinted that the move was premeditated, saying the government and the BCCI were aligned on the decision.

Pakistan board demands action

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) escalated matters by demanding the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft. The PCB alleged that Pycroft had advised Salman Ali Agha not to initiate handshakes and had separately spoken to the Indian captain after the snub. In a letter to the ICC, the PCB called for Pycroft’s immediate suspension.

“The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the match referee of the UCC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the spirit of cricket. The PCB has demanded the immediate removal of the match referee from the Asia Cup,” PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi said in a post on X.

Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister, strongly criticised India’s stance.

“Utterly disappointing to witness the lack of sportsmanship today. Dragging politics into the game goes against the very spirit of sport. Let’s hope future victories are celebrated by all teams with grace,” he wrote.

Pakistan Cricket Board, according to sources, also suspended their Director of International Cricket Operations, Usman Wahla, for 'failing to take timely action' over the handshake controversy that marred the high-profile encounter.