India Pakistan Asia Cup Asia Cup Tensions Persist No Handshake Match Delay

India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha continued their refusal to shake hands at the toss for their Asia Cup 2025 Super Four match, reflecting ongoing tensions between the two cricketing rivals amid recent military conflicts. India won the toss and chose to field first, with Suryakumar dedicating their previous seven-wicket victory to the Indian armed forces, a gesture echoed by teammates on social media. Pakistan expressed anger over what they described as unsportsmanlike behavior by India and criticized match referee Andy Pycroft, leading to a delayed match against the UAE and demands for an ICC inquiry. Both teams made changes to their line-ups, with India bringing back key players Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy. The Asia Cup, featuring India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh in the Super Four stage, remains overshadowed by political tensions, with the final scheduled for September 28. The continued lack of customary handshakes underscores the strained relations between the two sides both on and off the field.