Dubai: What began as a routine Asia Cup fixture soon turned into a story of rivalry, pride, and breached courtesies. Under the warm glow of Dubai night, India’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan looked convincing on the scoreboard, yet the real drama unfolded long after the last ball.
Hours later, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) went public with a grievance against Match Referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of breaching not only the ICC Code of Conduct but also the unwritten Spirit of Cricket. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi, in a social media post, demanded Pycroft’s immediate removal from the tournament - a statement aimed as much at drawing firm boundaries as at administrative procedure.
At the heart of the controversy lay a quiet omission. After the match, there were no handshakes, pats on the back, or even the usual nods of respect. Indian players walked straight off, skipping the traditional exchange, while Pakistan, interpreting it as discourtesy, withheld their captain from the presentation ceremony. Team manager Naveed Cheema later handed a letter of protest to Pycroft, calling the behaviour “unsporting and against the spirit of the game.”
The tension reportedly began at the toss, when neither captain - India’s Suryakumar Yadav nor Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha - shook hands. After sealing victory, Suryakumar and Shivam Dube returned to their dressing room without engaging with the Pakistan players.
According to PCB officials, even when the visitors approached the Indian dressing room for the customary post-match handshake, the door was closed by India management. Pakistan skipper Agha also skipped his post-match interview with official broadcaster Sony as a mark of protest, while coach Mike Hesson confirmed that his players had intended to follow the handshake protocol.
Responding to criticism, Suryakumar defended his team’s stance, explaining that the decision had been taken beforehand in consultation with the BCCI and was in line with government directives. "A few things in life stand ahead of sportsman spirit," he said, dedicating the victory to victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and the armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor.
The India captain, who turned 35 on Sunday, also stressed that the move was meant to keep the team focused. “We decided on arrival in Dubai to stay away from distractions so we could execute our plans better. I wasn’t aware of everything happening outside; my team shields me from that so I can step onto the field with a clear mind,” he told reporters.
Leading from the front, Suryakumar scored an unbeaten 47 and struck the winning runs as India cruised past Pakistan in their first meeting since the April terror attack. They will face Oman in their final group fixture in Abu Dhabi on Friday, September 19.
