No handshake between India and Pakistan ahead of Super Four match

There was no handshake between India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Agha ahead of their teams’ Super 4 cricket match in the Asia Cup on Sunday.

India won the toss and chose to bowl.

Pakistan’s midweek game against the United Arab Emirates was delayed by an hour in the fallout over Indian players refusing to shake hands with Pakistani players both at the toss and after a Group A match on Sept. 14. Pakistan proceeded to play UAE after claiming match referee Andy Pycroft had apologized for the “miscommunication” at the game against India.

India vs Pakistan: No handshake stance continues between two teams

Pycroft is again the ICC’s appointed match referee for Sunday’s Super 4 match. The group game was the first between the India and Pakistan cricket teams since the Pahalgam attack in April, when gunmen opened fire on a group of tourists in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

India is the designated host of the eight-nation Asia Cup, but the Twenty20 tournament is being played in the UAE because the India and Pakistan cricket teams don’t play on each other’s territory.

Suryakumar has previously said that the Indian team was aligned with the Board of Control for Cricket in India and government instructions that players wouldn’t shake hands with Pakistan players.

After winning the toss, Suryakumar Yadav opted to bowl and gave his interview to Ravi Shastri before heading straight back to the Indian dressing room. In their earlier clash on September 14, it was Agha who had won the toss and spoken first. On both occasions, neither captain made an effort to exchange greetings or shake hands at the toss.

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