SRINAGAR: Pakistan have lodged a formal protest with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) after Indian players declined to shake hands following their Asia Cup encounter on Sunday, which India won by seven wickets under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav.
In a late-night statement, as reported by NDTV, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) described India’s conduct as “unsporting”. “Team manager Naveed Cheema lodged a strong protest against Indian players’ behaviour of not shaking hands. It was deemed unsporting and against the spirit of the game. As a mark of protest, we did not send our captain to the post-match ceremony,” the statement said.
Responding to the controversy, Suryakumar explained that the gesture was a show of solidarity with the families of victims of the April terrorist attack in Pahalgam. The Asia Cup tie marked the first meeting between the two sides since the attack and India’s subsequent ‘Operation Sindoor’ targeting terror infrastructure across the border in May.
On the field, however, the contest proved one-sided, with India dominating in all departments to register a comprehensive victory.
