ACC may take action against the Indian team for their handshake refusal after the Asia Cup 2025 match

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) may consider disciplinary measures against the Indian team for refusing to shake hands with the Pakistan players following their Asia Cup 2025 match on Sunday. After securing a seven-wicket win, the Indian team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, chose to skip the customary handshake, causing frustration in the Pakistan camp. As a result, Salman decided to boycott the post-match presentation ceremony, while the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) lodged a formal complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) on Monday.

“The controversy has caught the attention of the ACC, which is considering potential disciplinary measures against the Indian team,” the report stated.

In their complaint, the PCB accused the Indian side of misconduct and suggested that match referee Andy Pycroft had instructed Salman not to shake hands with the Indian captain. They also called for Pycroft’s immediate exclusion from the rest of the T20 tournament.

During his post-match press conference, Suryakumar explained that the team acted on the guidance of the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

“We are aligned with the Indian government and the BCCI,” Suryakumar explained when asked why his team did not shake hands with the Pakistan players.

This was the first encounter between the two sides since the cross-border hostilities in May, which led to the deaths of over 70 individuals due to missile, drone, and artillery exchanges before a ceasefire was agreed upon. The conflict was ignited by a terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 civilians.

If Pakistan win their final group match against the United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, the two teams are set to face each other again in the Super Four round in Dubai on Sunday. They could also face off for a third time in the final on September 28 in Dubai, depending on how the other matches unfold.