The Asia Cup match in the UAE turned into more than just cricket when India defeated Pakistan in a one-sided clash. Team India did not only secure a 7-wicket victory but also chose to refuse a post-match handshake with the Pakistani players. The Indian team then dedicated this dominating win to the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to the Indian armed forces.

This move deeply rattled not just Pakistani fans but also their former cricketers and sports journalists. The humiliation of the crushing defeat was made worse when the Pakistani team was treated with deliberate indifference.

Former Pakistani fast bowler Tanvir Ahmed, who once fantasised about Pakistani batsmen smashing Jasprit Bumrah for six sixes in an over, lamented, “You are putting pressure on your players. Where are you taking the world? Where are you taking cricket? I mean this must is a unique situation. They left and did not shake hands.” He further claimed, “BCCI has forbidden their players to to shake hands My request is to the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board not to shake hands with India. It is your turn to insult them,” weaving more of his fantasies.

Similarly, Shoaib Akhtar, known for earlier chest-thumping statements about capturing Kashmir and carrying out Ghazwa-e-Hind, was this time found pleading with India for a handshake. He said, “It is disappointing and I am speechless. It is disheartening. I do not know what to say. Please don’t make it political. This is a cricket match. We are saying good things for you. What is your problem in shaking hands? Show some grace. Fights also happen at home. It doesn’t mean you should take it to the next level by not shaking hands.”

Pakistani sports analyst Sanaullah Khan also joined in, lamenting, “Pakistan-India match is over. When you can play a match and do other things, what was the probelm with a handshake?” He directed his anger at Mohsin Naqvi, Chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), accusing him of not taking any action against India.

Adding to the chorus, Pakistani journalist Ejaz Wasim Bakhri claimed, “When the Indian cricket team was going back to the dressing room, they did not shake hands with the Pakistani team. And even during the toss, Surya Kumar Yadav did not shake hands with the Pakistani captain.” His sidekick supported this view, saying, “Look, I think that the game should be kept away from politics. If they felt that it was distasteful to shake hands, then they should not have come here to play altogether.”

Former captain Rashid Latif also complained, “The bad thing that happened today was that there was no handshake. When our captain took the team to the Indian dressing room, their team left the room.” He further urged, “The ICC should must take note of it. It is better that you do not play cricket altogether. Because it is a gentleman’s game. Lack of handshake is not good sign for international cricket.”

Another Pakistani journalist cried foul, saying, “It was known that they would not leave any stone unturned to show that they are superior than Pakistan. What was this gimmick of not shaking hands after the match? They clearly wanted to show their superiority.”