Pakistan coach disappointed India did not shake hands at Asia Cup

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Cricket - Asia Cup - Group A - India v Pakistan - Dubai International Cricket Stadium, Dubai, United Arab Emirates - September 14, 2025 Indias Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube celebrate winning REUTERS/Satish Kumar

DUBAI - Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson said they were disappointed by Indias decision not to shake hands after Sundays politically-charged Asia Cup match between the bitter neighbours.

India won the Group A encounter by seven wickets in the first cricket match between the sides since a four-day military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.

While the match itself passed without incident, there was no shaking of hands between the captains at the toss or among the players at the end.

We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game, we obviously are disappointed that our opposition didnt do that, Hesson told reporters.

We sort of went over there to shake hands and theyd already gone into the changing room.

That was a disappointing way for the match to finish, and a match we were disappointed for the way we played, but we were certainly willing to shake hands.

Pakistan captain Salman Agha did not attend the presentation ceremony, which New Zealander Hesson said was a follow-on effect of Indias refusal to shake hands.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated their victory to their armed forces at the ceremony, and expressed solidarity with the victims of the April 22 attack in Indian Kashmir which triggered the conflict.