Pakistan coach Mike Hesson was left fuming after the Indian contingent refused to shake hands with his players following the conclusion of the Asia Cup tie.
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Mike Hesson Frustrated as India Skips Post-Match Handshake
Pakistan coach Mike Hesson was left fuming after the Indian contingent refused to shake hands with his players following the Asia Cup 2025 Group A tie at the Dubai International Stadium on Sunday. Suryakumar Yadav’s side cruised home with seven wickets in hand and 25 balls to spare, chasing down 128 inside 16 overs. However, the match ended on an unsavoury note as Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube rushed back to their dressing room immediately after the winning runs.
The customary handshake between the teams never took place. Once Suryakumar and Dube returned to their dressing room, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and coach Mike Hesson approached the Indian camp, but no player emerged to reciprocate.
Mike Hesson was visibly annoyed by the snub. He noted that Suryakumar and Agha had also avoided shaking hands at the toss, refraining from making eye contact. Speaking at the post-match press conference, Hesson said his players were ready for the handshakes but eventually left once no Indian player came out.
No Handshake By Indian Player #INDvsPAK #AsiaCup #SuryakumarYadav pic.twitter.com/5Q8aqOt5Gu
— Cricket Thunder (@manish82715) September 14, 2025
“Obviously, we were ready to shake hands at the end of the game. We were disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that. We went over there to shake hands, and they’d already gone into the changing room,” Hesson told reporters.
The Asia Cup 2025 clash between the arch-rivals was mired in controversy, as boycott calls circulated in India. Fans were unhappy with India facing Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack and Operation Sindoor. After the win, India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the victory to the Indian Armed Forces, expressing solidarity with the families affected by the Pahalgam attack.
Earlier this year, a deadly attack in Kashmir claimed 26 innocent lives, prompting India to launch Operation Sindoor targeting terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK).
No Salman Agha post-match interview
After the handshake controversy, a fresh dispute emerged during the post-match presentation as Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha did not appear for an interview with the broadcasters.
With the win over Pakistan, India is virtually through to the Super 4s. Suryakumar Yadav’s side will next face Oman on Friday, September 19, while Pakistan takes on the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, September 17.