IND vs PAK: No handshake was a workforce name, says captain Suryakumar Yadav

What occurs when one of many world’s most politically charged and intense sporting contests is performed underneath the cloud of lingering hostility? Sunday’s India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match supplied the solutions.

A seven-wicket win for India ended on a hard-edged word as their gamers refused the customary handshake with their counterparts from Pakistan after a collective choice endorsed by an necessary member of the assist employees and okayed by the BCCI.

The refusal was not a spur-of-the-moment name.

The match was performed regardless of requires a boycott amid heightened geopolitical tensions between the 2 nations following the Pahalgam terror assault in April and the following ‘Operation Sindoor’ by India on terrorist bases throughout the border in May.

As many as 26 Indian vacationers misplaced their lives within the dastardly terrorist assault within the picturesque valley, and underneath the circumstances, participating in handshakes with gamers from Pakistan was deemed a step too far by the Indian camp.

Once skipper Suryakumar Yadav sealed the competition with a six, he turned in the direction of the dugout and began strolling with out even glancing on the opposition gamers.

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha queued up along with his teammates for the customary handshake and even walked midway in the direction of the Indian dugout, however no gamers from the other facet responded.

“We took a team call. We had come only to play. We had given them a reply. Some things are beyond sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took part in ‘Operation Sindoor’ and stand with families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack,” mentioned Suryakumar, when PTI enquired whether or not it was a collective name.

The transfer had its echo on the opposite facet too, for Pakistan skipper Salman boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony with their coach Mike Hesson admitting that the bitterness had spilled over.

“We wanted to shake hands but disappointed that the opposition didn’t do that. Disappointed with the way we played, but we wanted to shake hands,” Hesson mentioned.

“Salman not coming for the post-match presentation was cause and effect after what happened,” he added.

Earlier within the night, Suryakumar and Salman didn’t have interaction within the customary handshake in the course of the toss for his or her Group A contest and likewise refused to make any eye contact, drawing the eye of the cricket fraternity.

Both the captains submitted their respective workforce sheets to the match referee Andy Pycroft from Zimbabwe, spoke with the TV commentator Ravi Shastri, who was conducting the toss, and headed again of their respective instructions.

It is known that the Indian workforce’s name in regards to the pre and post-match formalities had been mentioned a lot earlier than the ball began rolling.

The choice was taken by an necessary member of the assist employees, who could be very categorical about his stance on all issues regarding Pakistan, and the transfer to not shake arms was actually endorsed by the BCCI.

“We are aligned with our government and the BCCI,” skipper Surya did not overlook to say what has already been mentioned by assistant coaches (fielding) Ryan Ten Doeschate and (batting) Sitanshu Kotak throughout earlier media interactions.

India and Pakistan are all set to satisfy once more on the similar venue subsequent Sunday and one can assure that there might be a spillover of this stress and controversy going ahead.