Mumbai, Sep 15: India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistan after their Asia Cup 2025 clash was not a spontaneous move but a deliberate decision taken under the instructions of head coach Gautam Gambhir, according to a report in Telecom Asia Sport.
The report revealed that Gambhir had advised his players ahead of the Dubai match to completely avoid any form of interaction with the Pakistani cricketers.
This included not shaking hands before or after the game, steering clear of verbal exchanges on the field, and maintaining silence off it. In a meeting with the squad on the eve of the high-voltage fixture, Gambhir reportedly urged the players to stay off social media, ignore the external chatter surrounding the match, and focus solely on representing India.
“Cut down on social media, stop reading the noise. Your job is to play for India.
Don’t forget what happened in Pahalgam.
Don’t shake hands, don’t engage — just go out, show your best, and win for India,” Gambhir was quoted as telling his players.
The Indian team followed the directive, with captain Suryakumar Yadav refraining from customary handshakes at the toss and after the game.
The snub continued post-match, as the report claimed that when Pakistan’s captain and head coach visited the Indian dressing room, no Indian player stepped out to meet them. (IANS)
