NEW DELHI: India’s commanding seven-wicket victory over Pakistan within the Asia Cup on Sunday might have seemed routine on the scoreboard, however the aftermath turned the Dubai Worldwide Stadium into the stage of a diplomatic drama. Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha refused to attend the post-match presentation ceremony in protest after Indian gamers declined to shake arms, an incident now on the centre of what many are calling “handshake-gate.”Go Past The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The flashpoint unfolded moments after India captain Suryakumar Yadav sealed the match with a towering six. As a substitute of ready to trade the customary handshakes along with his opponents, Suryakumar shook arms solely with batting associate Shivam Dube earlier than main his teammates straight into the dressing room. Inside seconds, India’s assist workers shut the door, leaving Pakistan’s gamers stranded in the course of the bottom.
Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson expressed frustration on the snub. “We have been able to shake arms on the finish of the sport. We’re upset that the opposition didn’t try this. We went over there and so they have been already gone to the altering room, in order that was clearly a disappointing strategy to end the match,” he instructed reporters.The Pakistani gamers lingered on the sphere for a few minutes earlier than retreating. Hesson, visibly agitated, rushed in direction of India’s dressing room, solely to seek out the doorways locked. He was later noticed in a tense dialog with match referee Andy Pycroft. In solidarity along with his staff, captain Salman Ali Agha selected to not seem on the post-match presentation, leaving broadcasters scrambling.Pakistan’s staff administration confirmed their protest in a press release. “The behaviour of Indian gamers was towards the spirit of sportsmanship. That’s the reason skipper (Salman) Agha was not despatched to the post-match ceremony,” it learn.India, nonetheless, stood agency. At his press convention, skipper Suryakumar Yadav stated: “The staff was aligned with the federal government and Board of Management for Cricket in India in not shaking arms with the Pakistan staff. We stand with the victims and households of the Pahalgam terror assault and we categorical our solidarity. We wish to dedicate right this moment’s win to the armed forces.”The political overtones have been inconceivable to disregard. The match was the primary between the neighbours since a army battle in Might. That escalation adopted an April terror assault in Pahalgam, Kashmir, which India accused Pakistan of supporting.Whereas India’s spinners and Suryakumar’s unbeaten 47 scripted a dominant on-field win, the true speaking level was India’s refusal to shake arms after the match and Pakistan’s captain protesting in silence — by refusing to indicate up on the presentation, amplifying the rift that cricket couldn’t bridge.