Suryakumar Yadav Maintains No-Handshake Policy vs Pakistan, India Wins Super Four Clash
PakkaHyderabadi 
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav continues no-handshake policy with Pakistan during Asia Cup Super Four toss, citing solidarity with Pahalgam attack victims.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav maintained his team’s no-handshake policy with Pakistan during the toss of the high-octane Super Four Asia Cup clash on Sunday. India won the toss and chose to field in their first Super Four match in Dubai on September 21.
Speaking after the toss, Suryakumar cited the heavy dew during Saturday’s training as a factor in his decision. “We’ll bowl first. Looks a nice track and yesterday there was dew. Since the first round we were thinking we’re playing a knockout tournament, nothing changes. That was a completely different wicket (in Abu Dhabi). Quite normal, just another game. Bumrah and Varun come back for Arshdeep and Harshit,” he explained.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said his side would have preferred to bowl first but welcomed the new challenge. “Would’ve bowled first as well. It’s a new game, new challenge. The mood is very normal. Pitch looks to be on the slower side. Want to start well with both bat and ball. Two changes. Hasan Nawaz and Khushdil Shah not playing,” he added.
In the lead-up to the match, PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi—who also chairs the Asian Cricket Council—visited the Pakistan nets at the ICC Academy in Dubai, prompting players to cut short their drills. Naqvi later held a discussion with head coach Mike Hesson and summoned captain Agha to reinforce key points.
The toss controversy dates back to last week’s group-stage match, when Suryakumar refused to shake hands with Pakistan players. India later left the field at the end of the game without the customary handshake. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation, and the PCB lodged a complaint with the ICC, alleging match referee Andy Pycroft had blocked the handshake.
The PCB even threatened to boycott their next game against the UAE unless Pycroft was removed. The situation was resolved after a meeting with the referee, who reportedly apologised to Pakistan. The ICC later cleared Pycroft of any wrongdoing, confirming he had only conveyed India’s decision not to shake hands. He was subsequently appointed match referee again for the Super Four clash.
On the field, India secured a clinical victory, extending their dominance over Pakistan in the past decade. However, post-match proceedings were again controversial, with Indian players refusing handshakes to show solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam attack. Pakistan described the gesture as “unsporting” and lodged a formal complaint.
