'Cricket match hain, isko political mat banao': Shoaib Akhtar slams India's no-handshake stance; backs Salman Agha's protest

NEW DELHI: India handed Pakistan a crushing seven-wicket defeat in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A encounter at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday, but the drama off the field quickly overshadowed the on-field performance. Following a clinical bowling effort that restricted Pakistan to 127/9, Team India chased the target in just 15.5 overs, losing three wickets. Yet it was their post-match actions that caught global attention.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!After the final ball, while Pakistan waited for the customary handshake, none of the Indian players were on the field. Footage also showed India’s support staff closing the team dressing room door, leaving Pakistan players stranded. Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar expressed his disappointment on a post-match show, calling the incident disheartening.“I’m speechless. It is disheartening to see and I don’t know what to say. Hats off to India. Just don’t make things political. Cricket match hain, isko political mat banao… Fights happen, even inside your house. Forget it, move on. It is the game of cricket, shake your hands, show your grace,” Akhtar said.The former speedster also backed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha’s decision to skip the post-match presentation ceremony.“Thik kiya Salman Ali Agha ne, wo nahi gaya post match mein, good,” he added.Sunday’s clash marked the first cricketing meeting between India and Pakistan since geopolitical tensions escalated earlier this year after the Pahalgam terror attack. Ahead of the match, there were calls across social media and within India for the team to boycott the fixture, but tournament regulations made forfeiture impossible. India, however, maintained a stance aligned with national sentiment.While the match itself was a one-sided affair, it was the handshake controversy and Akhtar’s dramatic comments that dominated post-match conversations, reminding cricket fans worldwide that this rivalry, both on and off the field, carries significance far beyond runs and wickets.