Former India all-rounder Irfan Pathan has weighed in on the ongoing debate surrounding the handshake row during the India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash. Indian players chose not to shake hands with their Pakistan counterparts before and after the match, sparking controversy across the cricketing world. Pathan stressed that such decisions are never made in isolation but in full alignment with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the Indian government. “The cricketers, BCCI and the government of India are aligned. Everything runs in the alignment of the situation and it is also an individual decision,” Pathan told ANI. He also underlined that while the controversy has dominated headlines, the Indian team’s performance on the field remains the bigger story. “Indian team is playing very well. All controversy is on one hand and the way the Indian team is moving ahead is on the other,” he added.
The decision not to shake hands came as a mark of respect for the families who lost their loved ones in the Pahalgam terror attack. India’s skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, dedicated the team’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan to the country’s armed forces and the victims of the tragedy. “I think it’s a perfect occasion and taking the time out, we stand by the families of the Pahalgam terror attack and express our solidarity,” Suryakumar said after the match. He added that the victory was a “return gift” to the country, and he was pleased to have finished the game for India with a six off Sufiyan Muqeem. “This is one box which I always wanted to tick, stay there till the end, and it was the need of the hour today,” he said. The refusal to shake hands extended to both pre-match and post-match formalities. There was no handshake during the coin toss between Suryakumar and Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. Both captains handed over their team sheets to match referee Andy Pycroft, spoke briefly with broadcaster Ravi Shastri, and returned to their respective dugouts.
