Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha never saw two cricket teams not shaking hands after a game during his nearly two-decade professional career. Ahead of the marquee Asia Cup final against their arch-rivals India on Sunday (Sep 28) in Dubai, Agha broke his silence on the ‘handshake saga’ that made headlines earlier in the Asia Cup 2025. Considering sour geo-political relations between the two arch-rivals, Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian Team decided against shaking hands with Pakistani players after the side’s first face-off since the Pahalgam terror attack, irking the Men in Green.&nbsp;In the pre-game presser in Dubai, the venue for the first-ever India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final, Agha recalls not witnessing such a thing (no handshakes) happen on the cricket field, even when relations between India and Pakistan were at their worst. Addressing this issue, he said that no handshakes are not good for cricket.&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ind-vs-pak-patriotism-rage-all-in-mud-as-leading-multiplex-chain-pvr-inox-to-screen-asia-cup-final-1758984965064">IND vs PAK: Patriotism, rage in mud as leading multiplex chain to screen Asia Cup Final</a> &nbsp;“As far as handshakes are concerned, I’ve been playing professional cricket since 2007 at the under-16 level. I’ve never seen two teams not shaking hands during a match. Even my father is a big cricket fan, and I’ve heard stories about the game from him. He never mentioned that two teams playing cricket didn’t shake hands. &nbsp;"India and Pakistan have faced each other before, even when relations between the countries were worse, and handshakes always happened. According to me, no handshakes are not good for cricket,” he said. &nbsp;Not only during the group game, which India won by seven wickets, but also after the India-Pakistan Super Four match, the Indian Team walked off the field without shaking hands with their counterparts. Although the handshake saga will continue to hog all the limelight, Agha remains adamant that his team’s focus is just on cricket. &nbsp;“We don’t focus on what we can’t control. Media talk, outside noise—we ignore it. Our goal is the Asia Cup. We came here to play good cricket, and tomorrow we’ll aim to win the final,” he added.&nbsp; &nbsp;Speaking on his team’s chances against India, against whom they haven’t won a single game in this tournament yet, Agha expressed confidence in his team’s chances. &nbsp;“Inshallah, you’ll see us winning. If we play our best cricket and execute for 40 overs, we can beat any team,” he said.

In the pre-game presser in Dubai, the venue for the first-ever India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final, Agha recalls not witnessing such a thing (no handshakes) happen on the cricket field, even when relations between India and Pakistan were at their worst.

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha never saw two cricket teams not shaking hands after a game during his nearly two-decade professional career. Ahead of the marquee Asia Cup final against their arch-rivals India on Sunday (Sep 28) in Dubai, Agha broke his silence on the ‘handshake saga’ that made headlines earlier in the Asia Cup 2025. Considering sour geo-political relations between the two arch-rivals, Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian Team decided against shaking hands with Pakistani players after the side’s first face-off since the Pahalgam terror attack, irking the Men in Green. In the pre-game presser in Dubai, the venue for the first-ever India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final, Agha recalls not witnessing such a thing (no handshakes) happen on the cricket field, even when relations between India and Pakistan were at their worst. Addressing this issue, he said that no handshakes are not good for cricket. Also read | IND vs PAK: Patriotism, rage in mud as leading multiplex chain to screen Asia Cup Final “As far as handshakes are concerned, I’ve been playing professional cricket since 2007 at the under-16 level. I’ve never seen two teams not shaking hands during a match. Even my father is a big cricket fan, and I’ve heard stories about the game from him. He never mentioned that two teams playing cricket didn’t shake hands. "India and Pakistan have faced each other before, even when relations between the countries were worse, and handshakes always happened. According to me, no handshakes are not good for cricket,” he said. Not only during the group game, which India won by seven wickets, but also after the India-Pakistan Super Four match, the Indian Team walked off the field without shaking hands with their counterparts. Although the handshake saga will continue to hog all the limelight, Agha remains adamant that his team’s focus is just on cricket. “We don’t focus on what we can’t control. Media talk, outside noise—we ignore it. Our goal is the Asia Cup. We came here to play good cricket, and tomorrow we’ll aim to win the final,” he added. Speaking on his team’s chances against India, against whom they haven’t won a single game in this tournament yet, Agha expressed confidence in his team’s chances. “Inshallah, you’ll see us winning. If we play our best cricket and execute for 40 overs, we can beat any team,” he said.

In the pre-game presser in Dubai, the venue for the first-ever India vs Pakistan Asia Cup final, Agha recalls not witnessing such a thing (no handshakes) happen on the cricket field, even when relations between India and Pakistan were at their worst.

‘Even when relations were worse…,’ Salman Agha breaks silence on ‘handshake saga’ ahead of Asia Cup Final

‘Respect is earned, not given,’ and India has made that crystal clear. Twice in the Asia Cup 2025, once in the group stage and again in the Super Four, India refused to shake hands with Pakistan after comprehensive victories. Instead of accepting defeat with grace, Pakistan's media and fans erupted, accusing India of lacking sportsmanship. But here’s the truth: sportsmanship isn’t about photo ops. It’s about dignity, discipline, and character, qualities India has shown time and again on the world stage. Ironically, while questions were being raised about India's ‘spirit of the game,’ it was a Pakistani player, Sahibzada Farhan, who chose to celebrate a half-century in a losing cause with a 'gun' gesture, a move that many saw as aggressive and unnecessary.&nbsp;Before anyone dares to question India’s spirit, they should take a long, hard look at history. Because when it comes to upholding the dignity of the sport, India has led by example, time and again. India didn’t respond with gestures; they responded with the bat. Abhishek Sharma, a young Indian southpaw batter, who played a match-winning knock, later posted on social media, ‘You talk, we win.’&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/what-is-the-one-link-that-ties-cricket-and-tennis-together-explained-1757163013602">What is the one link that ties cricket and tennis together? EXPLAINED</a>&nbsp;And that perfectly sums it up. Before anyone questions India’s sportsmanship, they should take a look at the past moments where India upheld the spirit of the game.<h2>1. 2019 World Cup – Virat Kohli Defends Steve Smith</h2>During the 2019 World Cup, Australian batter Steve Smith was being booed by fans over the ball-tampering scandal. But Indian captain Virat Kohli stepped in and asked Indian fans to applaud him instead. This act of respect won hearts around the world and even won Kohli the 2019, ‘ICC Spirit of Cricket Award.’<h2>2. 2018 – India Welcomes Afghanistan to Test Cricket</h2>In Afghanistan’s debut Test match against India, the Indian team invited the Afghan players for a joint team photo. It was a warm gesture that made the occasion even more special for the newcomers.<h2>3. 2023 ODI World Cup – Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq Move On</h2>After a heated IPL clash earlier that year, Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq were seen shaking hands and smiling during the ODI World Cup. It showed how Indian players know when to put personal differences aside for the spirit of the game.<h2>4. 2018 Nidahas Trophy – India Celebrates with Sri Lankan Flag</h2>After winning the final of the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka, Indian players celebrated by waving the Sri Lankan flag to honour the hosts. It was a simple yet powerful show of respect.&nbsp;India’s decision to skip the handshake wasn’t a sign of disrespect; it was a message. When a nation consistently sponsors and fuels terrorism, spreads hate, and targets innocent lives, symbolic gestures like a handshake become hollow and meaningless.&nbsp;This wasn’t just about cricket. It was about drawing a line between sport and state-sponsored hate. Pakistan and its supporters were quick to cry foul, questioning India’s sportsmanship. But as the saying goes, 'Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.' A country that has repeatedly violated the spirit of peace has no moral ground to lecture anyone on the spirit of the game.&nbsp;India have always upheld the values of sportsmanship, dignity in defeat, humility in victory, and respect for the game.

Before anyone dares to question India’s spirit, they should take a long, hard look at history. Because when it comes to upholding the dignity of the sport, India has led by example, time and again.

‘Respect is earned, not given,’ and India has made that crystal clear. Twice in the Asia Cup 2025, once in the group stage and again in the Super Four, India refused to shake hands with Pakistan after comprehensive victories. Instead of accepting defeat with grace, Pakistan's media and fans erupted, accusing India of lacking sportsmanship. But here’s the truth: sportsmanship isn’t about photo ops. It’s about dignity, discipline, and character, qualities India has shown time and again on the world stage. Ironically, while questions were being raised about India's ‘spirit of the game,’ it was a Pakistani player, Sahibzada Farhan, who chose to celebrate a half-century in a losing cause with a 'gun' gesture, a move that many saw as aggressive and unnecessary. Before anyone dares to question India’s spirit, they should take a long, hard look at history. Because when it comes to upholding the dignity of the sport, India has led by example, time and again. India didn’t respond with gestures; they responded with the bat. Abhishek Sharma, a young Indian southpaw batter, who played a match-winning knock, later posted on social media, ‘You talk, we win.’ Also read | What is the one link that ties cricket and tennis together? EXPLAINED And that perfectly sums it up. Before anyone questions India’s sportsmanship, they should take a look at the past moments where India upheld the spirit of the game. 1. 2019 World Cup – Virat Kohli Defends Steve Smith During the 2019 World Cup, Australian batter Steve Smith was being booed by fans over the ball-tampering scandal. But Indian captain Virat Kohli stepped in and asked Indian fans to applaud him instead. This act of respect won hearts around the world and even won Kohli the 2019, ‘ICC Spirit of Cricket Award.’ 2. 2018 – India Welcomes Afghanistan to Test Cricket In Afghanistan’s debut Test match against India, the Indian team invited the Afghan players for a joint team photo. It was a warm gesture that made the occasion even more special for the newcomers. 3. 2023 ODI World Cup – Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq Move On After a heated IPL clash earlier that year, Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq were seen shaking hands and smiling during the ODI World Cup. It showed how Indian players know when to put personal differences aside for the spirit of the game. 4. 2018 Nidahas Trophy – India Celebrates with Sri Lankan Flag After winning the final of the Nidahas Trophy in Sri Lanka, Indian players celebrated by waving the Sri Lankan flag to honour the hosts. It was a simple yet powerful show of respect. India’s decision to skip the handshake wasn’t a sign of disrespect; it was a message. When a nation consistently sponsors and fuels terrorism, spreads hate, and targets innocent lives, symbolic gestures like a handshake become hollow and meaningless. This wasn’t just about cricket. It was about drawing a line between sport and state-sponsored hate. Pakistan and its supporters were quick to cry foul, questioning India’s sportsmanship. But as the saying goes, 'Those who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.' A country that has repeatedly violated the spirit of peace has no moral ground to lecture anyone on the spirit of the game. India have always upheld the values of sportsmanship, dignity in defeat, humility in victory, and respect for the game.

Before anyone dares to question India’s spirit, they should take a long, hard look at history. Because when it comes to upholding the dignity of the sport, India has led by example, time and again.

'Those who live in glass houses shouldn’t throw stones': India’s message to Pakistan on refusing handshakes explained

The stiff deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the apex body (ICC) over the removal of Asia Cup match referee Andy Pycroft could have turned ugly had it not been about a specific high-profile person within the ICC, an Indian, who led the negotiations between the two, and was solely responsible for blocking PCB’s request in the handshake saga. The person concerned here is Sanjog Gupta, the first Indian to hold a CEO position within the ICC. Sanjog holds a reputation for being a transformative figure in the world of sports media, and per the latest reports, single-handedly jammed PCB’s request, resulting in the resumption of the Pakistan-UAE game on Wednesday (Sep 17).&nbsp;Following Pakistan’s group game against India in Dubai the past Sunday (Sep 14), where Suryakumar Yadav and his Men in Blue decided against shaking hands with their counterparts after the match, a move he later described as a mark of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, the PCB alleged misconduct on the part of the match referee (Pycroft).&nbsp;&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/asia-cup-2025-pcb-ramiz-raja-accuses-icc-referee-andy-pycroft-of-being-india-favourite-handshake-saga-1758194234285">Asia Cup 2025: Ramiz Raja accuses ICC referee Andy Pycroft of being India’s favourite</a> &nbsp;The PCB accused the former Zimbabwe cricketer of failing to uphold the spirit of the game, further alleging that he instructed the two captains (SKY and Pakistan’s Salman Agha) not to exchange team sheets and also advised Salman against initiating a handshake with Suryakumar Yadav during the toss. &nbsp;Irked with Team India’s decision, Pakistan labelled Pycroft’s softness over not taking any action against the Men in Blue as ‘partisan’, formally requesting the ICC to remove Pycroft as the tournament match referee. Reports suggest that the PCB had asked for Richie Richardson to replace Pycroft, a request denied outright by the ICC.<h3>Sanjog denies PCB’s request &nbsp;</h3>Ahead of Pakistan’s last group game against the UAE, the PCB instructed a group of players, who were already seated in the team bus that was to take them to the venue, to return to the hotel room, hinting at boycotting the game over the handshake saga. While the players obeyed the PCB’s orders, a high-profile closed-door meeting between all parties concerned saw them arrive at the venue some time later, resuming cricket. &nbsp;Meanwhile, the ICC responded to PCB’s request with a firm no, saying there was no valid reason to remove Pycroft from his position. Even following an internal inquiry on this matter conducted by the ICC, they did not find Pycroft guilty of any breach of the umpires and playing rules. The response, however, was part of a six-email exchange between the two boards, three from each.&nbsp; &nbsp;Even though PCB's Mohsin Naqvi and CCO Salman Naseer claimed a moral victory over this investigation, with the PCB even admitting in a social media post about Pycroft apologising to the board for his actions, the ICC refuted them, stating that these claims are false.

Irked with Team India’s decision, Pakistan labelled Pycroft’s softness over not taking any action against the Men in Blue as ‘partisan’, formally requesting the ICC to remove Pycroft as the tournament match referee.

The stiff deadlock between the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the apex body (ICC) over the removal of Asia Cup match referee Andy Pycroft could have turned ugly had it not been about a specific high-profile person within the ICC, an Indian, who led the negotiations between the two, and was solely responsible for blocking PCB’s request in the handshake saga. The person concerned here is Sanjog Gupta, the first Indian to hold a CEO position within the ICC. Sanjog holds a reputation for being a transformative figure in the world of sports media, and per the latest reports, single-handedly jammed PCB’s request, resulting in the resumption of the Pakistan-UAE game on Wednesday (Sep 17). Following Pakistan’s group game against India in Dubai the past Sunday (Sep 14), where Suryakumar Yadav and his Men in Blue decided against shaking hands with their counterparts after the match, a move he later described as a mark of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, the PCB alleged misconduct on the part of the match referee (Pycroft). Also read | Asia Cup 2025: Ramiz Raja accuses ICC referee Andy Pycroft of being India’s favourite The PCB accused the former Zimbabwe cricketer of failing to uphold the spirit of the game, further alleging that he instructed the two captains (SKY and Pakistan’s Salman Agha) not to exchange team sheets and also advised Salman against initiating a handshake with Suryakumar Yadav during the toss. Irked with Team India’s decision, Pakistan labelled Pycroft’s softness over not taking any action against the Men in Blue as ‘partisan’, formally requesting the ICC to remove Pycroft as the tournament match referee. Reports suggest that the PCB had asked for Richie Richardson to replace Pycroft, a request denied outright by the ICC. Sanjog denies PCB’s request Ahead of Pakistan’s last group game against the UAE, the PCB instructed a group of players, who were already seated in the team bus that was to take them to the venue, to return to the hotel room, hinting at boycotting the game over the handshake saga. While the players obeyed the PCB’s orders, a high-profile closed-door meeting between all parties concerned saw them arrive at the venue some time later, resuming cricket. Meanwhile, the ICC responded to PCB’s request with a firm no, saying there was no valid reason to remove Pycroft from his position. Even following an internal inquiry on this matter conducted by the ICC, they did not find Pycroft guilty of any breach of the umpires and playing rules. The response, however, was part of a six-email exchange between the two boards, three from each. Even though PCB's Mohsin Naqvi and CCO Salman Naseer claimed a moral victory over this investigation, with the PCB even admitting in a social media post about Pycroft apologising to the board for his actions, the ICC refuted them, stating that these claims are false.

Irked with Team India’s decision, Pakistan labelled Pycroft’s softness over not taking any action against the Men in Blue as ‘partisan’, formally requesting the ICC to remove Pycroft as the tournament match referee.

Asia Cup: Here’s how an Indian in ICC blocked PCB’s request to remove Andy Pycroft. Who is he?

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‘Even when relations were worse…,’ Salman Agha breaks silence on ‘handshake saga’ ahead of Asia Cup Final

Those who live in glass..: India’s message to Pakistan on refusing handshakes

Asia Cup: Here’s how an Indian in ICC blocked PCB’s request to remove Pycroft