The Asia Cup 2025 clash between India and Pakistan was already loaded with emotions because of the tense political backdrop.
India won the game comfortably, but the big talking point after the contest was not just the result.
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It was the behavior of the Indian team during the toss and after the victory that sparked reactions.
Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed came down heavily on Suryakumar Yadav’s men, saying they had ruined the “Spirit of Cricket” by not following the handshake tradition.
Tanvir Ahmed question India’s attitude in the Asia Cup clash
Tanvir Ahmed strongly criticized the Indian captain and team for skipping the handshake with their opponents.
He pointed out that even before the game began, Suryakumar Yadav did not acknowledge Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha at the toss.
Tanvir shared his view clearly:
“There were a couple of things I noticed in this match, and I’m sure many of you must have seen them too. The first was that the ground wasn’t packed. The stadium didn’t look full at all. The second thing was at the toss, there was no handshake. When Salman was walking back after the discussion, he looked towards Suryakumar Yadav, maybe to shake hands, but Suryakumar didn’t even look in his direction. From what I saw, he just walked away to the side. Of course, I could be wrong, but that’s how it seemed.
The larger point is, what kind of attitude is this? What kind of people behave like this? They have taken cricket to such a low level that even the players don’t exchange basic respect or greetings anymore.”
MORE: Asia Cup 2025: Complete schedule, dates, venues and teams
The former cricketer stressed that such behavior from the Indian camp was against the spirit of the game and left a bad impression on fans across the world.
Did India skip the post-match handshake as well?
The matter did not end at the toss. After Suryakumar sealed the game with a six, he and Shivam Dube headed straight to the Indian dugout instead of joining the traditional post-match handshake.
Pakistan’s players stood lined up for the courtesy, but no one from the Indian side came forward.
This was the second instance in the same game where India avoided the customary gesture.
READ: Asia Cup 2025: Format, teams and groups explained
While some fans backed the move as a strong stand against cross-border terrorism, others, including Tanvir Ahmed, felt it was disrespectful and unnecessary on the cricket field.
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