The Asia Cup 2025 has been marred by controversy after the Indian cricket team declined to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following their victory on Sunday. The incident has triggered a series of reactions, with Pakistan lodging a formal protest with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and threatening to boycott further matches.

Following India's seven-wicket win against Pakistan, the Indian players refrained from the customary post-match handshake, heading straight to the dressing room. This action reportedly left Pakistan's head coach, Mike Hesson, "enraged" and the Pakistani players "visibly disappointed". Suryakumar Yadav, India's captain, dedicated the win to the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack and the armed forces.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken the matter seriously, lodging a formal protest with the ACC. Furthermore, Pakistan threatened to boycott their crucial match against the UAE if match referee Andy Pycroft was not removed. The PCB alleges that Pycroft, "acting on behalf of BCCI", instructed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav at the toss. PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi has reportedly written to the International Cricket Council (ICC), demanding Pycroft's removal from the remainder of the tournament.

The ACC is reportedly considering disciplinary action against the Indian team. However, a senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) official stated that handshakes are a matter of goodwill and convention, not a requirement under the rules. They emphasized that India cannot be compelled to extend this gesture given the strained relations between the two countries.

According to a report in CricketPakistan.com, the ACC is reviewing clips related to the incident and fines on Indian players are a possible outcome. However, another report suggests that disciplinary action is unlikely as "congratulate" is not clearly defined as a handshake in the ICC code of conduct.

The incident has drawn mixed reactions from former cricketers and analysts. Some have supported India's stance, citing the country's solidarity with the victims of terrorism and the tense relationship with Pakistan. Others have criticized the lack of sportsmanship and the politicization of the game.

As of current reports, the ACC has not made an official statement on the matter. It remains to be seen whether any disciplinary action will be taken against the Indian team or whether the Pakistan team will follow through with their threat to boycott further matches. The incident has undoubtedly added another layer of complexity to the already intense rivalry between India and Pakistan, with potential repercussions for the remainder of the Asia Cup 2025.