The match between India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 was not interesting for cricket. Suryakumar Yadav’s team completely dusted the opposing team on Sunday. However, Indian captain Suryakumar’s decision not to join hands with Pakistani captain Salman Ali Aga and the rest of the players of the opposing team became a matter of discussion. There was no chance to join hands between the two players. Even when the Pakistani team went to the Indian dressing room, the doors were closed in front of them.
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Suryakumar was later asked about the decision not to join hands in the presentation ceremony and the press conference, where he said that keeping in mind the Pahalgam terror attack, it was an attempt to give a message to Pakistan. However, this idea was not of the captain. According to a report, the idea of refusing to join hands was the idea of head coach Gautam Gambhir. According to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, Gambhir allegedly advised Indian players not to join hands with Pakistani players and also asked them not to argue with their arch rival.
Prior to the match, the talk of ‘boycott’ had reached the Indian dressing room, after which Suryakumar and other players expressed their concerns with serious and other members of the collaborative staff. Gambhir allegedly asked the players to reduce the use of social media and focus only on sports. The report claimed that Gambhir said, “Reduce the use of social media, stop reading noise. Your job is to play for India. Do not forget what happened in Pahalgam. Do not forget hand, don’t join hands, do not talk – just go to the field, perform your best and win for India.”
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Between the Indian cricket team and BCCI criticism over the Asia Cup match organizing against Pakistan, Fielding coach Ryan Ten Doeshet has revealed that they are following the government’s instructions. In the backdrop of the Pahalgam terrorist attack and the military action taken by India, which resulted in a conflict with Pakistan, there is a debate on whether a cricket match should be played between the two neighboring countries.