India stick to no-handshake policy for Pakistan rematch: Indian media

Pakistan and India will meet again in the Asia Cup on Sunday, just a week after their previous clash was overshadowed by a controversy over handshake.

India had defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their September 14 group-stage match in Dubai. The aftermath sparked debate when Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistan team, a move widely criticised as unsporting.

In response, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a protest with the International Cricket Council (ICC), claiming that match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed Pakistan captain Salman Agha not to approach Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav for a handshake at the toss. The PCB demanded Pycroft’s removal from future matches and even cautioned to pull out of the eight-team Twenty20 tournament.

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The standoff delayed Pakistan’s final group match for nearly an hour before the PCB announced that Pycroft had apologised. The game eventually went ahead under his supervision, with Pakistan defeating hosts United Arab Emirates to advance to the Super Fours and set up another showdown with India in Dubai.

Indian media has reported that their team plans to stick to its no-handshake stance in Sunday’s match.

The cricketing rivalry comes against the backdrop of renewed political and military hostilities between the neighbours. In May, both sides fought a four-day cross-border conflict — the most intense since 1999 — that killed more than 70 people in missile, drone, and artillery exchanges. The clashes followed an April attack in Pahalgam, Indian Illegally Occupied Kashmir.

If both teams progress, they could face each other for a third time in the tournament final on September 28 in Dubai.