Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Ali Agha has criticised the Indian team for their repeated refusal to shake the hands of the Pakistan team players in the three matches that the two teams have played against each other at the Asia Cup. He said that by refusing to shake hands the Indian team were “disrespecting cricket.”
It started with India captain Suryakumar Yadav refusing to offer a handshake at the toss of the group stage game between India and Pakistan two Sundays ago. The Indian team also did not shake hands with the Pakistan side after their seven-wicket victory. This continued in the Super 4 clash on the next Sunday and in the Asia Cup final yesterday.
After their five-wicket defeat in the Asia Cup final, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha criticised the Indian team for their behavior in UAE. He also claimed that India captain Yadav had shaken hands with him before the start of the tournament.
“Suryakumar Yadav did shake hands with me in the press conference at the start of the tournament and during the referee’s meeting as well. But then he didn’t do it when he came in front of the entire world. I guess he is following the instructions he has been given, which is fine,” Agha said at the post-match press conference early on Monday morning.
Agha continued: “What happened in this tournament is quite disappointing. They think by not shaking hands they are disrespecting us. No. That is a disrespect to cricket. Today also what they did, a good team doesn’t do that. Good teams do what we did, went and did the photoshoot alone and took the medals as well. Whatever they are doing with the game, I don’t want to use very harsh words but, to be very honest, this is very disrespectful to the game, not anyone else.”
Agha was reminded about him skipping the press conference after the first group stage defeat to India.
“No, you have to look at who started all of this. If someone is president of ACC then he will be the one who gives the trophy. About the press conferences, that happened after whatever they started on the ground. It’s about something wrong happening with the game,” Agha claimed.
Agha added: “I’ve never seen anything like this anywhere. I don’t know where things will stop, if other teams will also start doing this. Hopefully that won’t happen. Whatever happened in this tournament was very, very bad. Hopefully it stops at some stage somewhere.”
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