NEW DELHI: After Suryakumar Yadav‘s no-handshake gesture following the India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 Group A game, reactions have been coming in thick and fast. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and its players were miffed by what Suryakumar did, but none stooped to the level of former Pakistan player Mohammad Yousuf. The former batter, with over 17,000 international runs, repeatedly used a derogatory word for Suryakumar during a discussion about the handshake row on a Pakistani TV channel. Even the anchor was shocked and kept correcting him, but Yousuf continued to use the cuss word for Yadav.“India are unable to get out of their filmy world. India should be ashamed of the way they are trying to win—using umpires, torturing (Pakistan) through the match referee. It is a high note,” said Yousuf on Samaa TV. He then started using the cuss word for Suryakumar.Social media users fumed over the comment made by Yousuf, who played 288 ODIs, 90 Tests, and 3 T20Is for Pakistan between 1998 and 2010.After facing severe backlash, Yousuf took to social media and cleared his stance.“I didn’t mean any disrespect to any sportsman who plays for his country with passion and grace, but why were the Indian media and people praising Irfan Pathan when he said that Shahid Afridi was barking like a dog? Shouldn’t that have been rejected by everyone who talks about dignity and respect?,” Yousuf said.
Amid worsening ties between the two neighbouring nations after the terror attack in Pahalgam on April 22, which claimed 26 innocent lives, a new controversy has erupted in the world of cricket.Despite the backlash and calls for a boycott of the India-Pakistan fixture at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, the game went ahead and has been surrounded by controversy. India won the match by seven wickets.
However, the Indian players refused to shake hands with their counterparts after securing the thumping win in Dubai.The handshake row escalated after the PCB lodged a complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of violating the International Cricket Council (ICC) Code of Conduct and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) laws relating to the spirit of cricket.Pakistan also threatened to pull out of the tournament.However, as reported by TimesofIndia.com, it is highly unlikely that the PCB will actually withdraw from the ongoing tournament.If Pakistan fail to take the field against United Arab Emirates on Wednesday, they will be eliminated from the Asia Cup. They currently have two points from one win and one loss, and must beat UAE to secure a place in the Super Four stage.
