ACC considers disciplinary action after Indian players avoid handshakes

The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) is considering disciplinary action against the Indian team after their players avoided shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts after the Asia Cup clash in Dubai. A final decision will be taken after reviewing all related incidents, with fines on Indian players being a likely outcome.

After the match, Indian players refused to exchange handshakes with Pakistanis, while at the toss the captains also refrained from the customary gesture. Pakistan’s head coach Mike Hesson strongly criticized the behavior, terming it against the spirit of the game.

Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav further stirred controversy by linking the team’s victory to political statements. 

“We stand with the victims of the Pahalgam attack and their families. We dedicate today’s win to our armed forces,” he said.

In response, Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema lodged a formal protest with the match referee, calling the incident “a violation of sportsmanship.” He also revealed that it was the referee who had requested the captains not to shake hands at the toss.

In protest, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha did not attend the post-match presentation ceremony.

Coach Hesson defended the reaction of the Pakistan camp, stating: “What the Indian team did was inappropriate. Pakistan’s response was natural.”

The controversy has now drawn the attention of the ACC, which is weighing possible disciplinary action against the Indian team.