India pulled off a comfortable victory over neighbour Pakistan in the Asia Cup match on Sunday in a match which, unfortunately, saw the geopolitical tensions between the two nations dragged onto the field.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav (SKY) refused to shake hands with his opposite number Salman Agha, and then with the opposition players at the conclusion of the match, which was held on neutral territory in Dubai. "We took a call as we came here to only play,” Suryakumar explained after the game.
Following the terror attacks on the border earlier in the year, the Indian government ruled that India can only play Pakistan in tournaments, but that there will be no bilateral sports between the two nations. Ties between the team, the BCCI government and the military have long been uncomfortably close. Former captain MS Dhoni wore keeping gloves with military insignias, and the team has donned military-themed caps in the past.
Sushant Singh, a lecturer in South Asian studies at Yale University and consulting editor with The Caravan magazine in India, wrote an excellent piece for Cricket Et Al on the topic in May.
SKY headed straight for the dressing rooms with his partner after hitting the winning runs in the match, while the other Indian players made a beeline from the dugout to the change room, none pausing to acknowledge their Pakistan opponents.
"We sort of went over there to shake hands and they were already going to the changing room," Pakistan coach Mike Hesson said.
"That was a disappointing way for the match to finish. In a match that we were disappointed in the way we played, but certainly we were willing to go and shake hands."
Indian coach Gautam Gambhir had said earlier in the year that he didn’t think the two nations should play each other again, but the two teams could possibly play each other three times in the tournament.
After the game, the Indian captain was clear that Pakistan’s attack earlier in the year was the reason behind the unsporting scenes on the field.
"Our government and BCCI - we were aligned today," Suryakumar said at his post-match press conference. "Rest, we took a call [about not shaking hands]. We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply."
“I think it’s a perfect occasion and taking the time out, we stand by with the victims of the families of Pahalgam terror attack and we express our solidarity,” Suryakumar told the broadcaster after the match here.
“Also the most important thing for me, we want to dedicate today’s win to all our armed forces who showed a lot of bravery and hope they continue to inspire us all and we give them more reasons on the ground, whenever we get an opportunity to make them smile,” he added.
Pakistan then refused to attend the post-match presentation and also reportedly lodged a complaint which, confusingly, appeared to blame the match referee, Andy Pycroft, for the snub.
India’s reluctance to engage in sporting events with a hostile neighbour is understandable, but there’s always been a sense of shared humanity and even sympathy when the two sides have met on the field, at least until now.
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