In a notable display of ongoing tensions, India A’s captain Jitesh Sharma led his team at the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha, where the match against Pakistan Shaheens unfolded without the customary handshake. This decision followed a pattern established earlier this year during the senior India team’s encounters with Pakistan.
Match Overview
- Event: Rising Stars Asia Cup
- Location: Doha
- Teams: India A vs Pakistan Shaheens
- Date: Sunday
Once again, the India A team refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts, maintaining the precedent set in previous matches. This behavior was evident during all three games of the recent Asia Cup, where the senior Indian team also did not engage in handshakes at tosses or following the matches.
Context of Tensions
The decision to forgo handshakes has highlighted the strained relationship between the two cricketing nations. This is significant, especially as bilateral cricket remains suspended. The atmosphere during the Asia Cup was fraught with animosity, culminating in India’s win over Pakistan by five wickets.
- Previous Encounters: India and Pakistan faced each other thrice in the Asia Cup.
- Final Match Outcome: India won by 5 wickets.
Reasons Behind the Gesture
This particular gesture of avoiding handshakes was driven by India’s desire to express solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to honor the armed forces. This act of dissent escalated tensions between the two teams during the Asia Cup.
At the award ceremony of the Asia Cup final, delays plagued proceedings, with the champions unable to touch the trophy due to the early exit of PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi. Such incidents reflect the ongoing strain in cricketing relations and emphasize the complexities of their interactions during ICC and ACC events.
As cricket fans look forward to more matches, the implications of these gestures will continue to resonate in the sports community, underlining the intricate dynamics at play in India-Pakistan cricketing encounters.
