It was a group name, we got here right here to play and provides them a reply: Surya | Agency-feeds News

Representational picture (Image: News18)

Dubai, Sep 14 (PTI) What occurs when one of many world’s most politically charged and intense sporting contests is performed underneath the cloud of lingering hostility? Sunday’s India-Pakistan Asia Cup cricket match supplied the solutions.

A seven-wicket win for India ended on a hard-edged notice as their gamers refused the customary handshake with their counterparts from Pakistan after a collective choice endorsed by an vital member of the assist workers and okayed by the BCCI.

The refusal was not a spur-of-the-moment name.

The match was performed regardless of requires a boycott amid heightened geopolitical tensions between the 2 nations following the Pahalgam terror assault in April and the following ‘Operation Sindoor’ by India on terrorist bases throughout the border in May.

As many as 26 Indian vacationers misplaced their lives within the dastardly terrorist assault within the picturesque valley, and underneath the circumstances, partaking in handshakes with gamers from Pakistan was deemed a step too far by the Indian camp.

Once skipper Suryakumar Yadav sealed the competition with a six, he turned in the direction of the dugout and began strolling with out even glancing on the opposition gamers.

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha queued up together with his teammates for the customary handshake and even walked midway in the direction of the Indian dugout, however no gamers from the other facet responded.

“We took a group name. We had come solely to play. We had given them a reply. Some issues are past sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took half in ‘Operation Sindoor’ and stand with households of the victims of the Pahalgam terror assault,” mentioned Suryakumar, when PTI enquired whether or not it was a collective name.

The transfer had its echo on the opposite facet too, for Pakistan skipper Salman boycotted the post-match presentation ceremony with their coach Mike Hesson admitting that the bitterness had spilled over.

“We wished to shake palms however upset that the opposition didn’t try this. Disappointed with the best way we performed, however we wished to shake palms,” Hesson mentioned.

“Salman not coming for the post-match presentation was trigger and impact after what occurred,” he added.

Earlier within the night, Suryakumar and Salman didn’t interact within the customary handshake throughout the toss for his or her Group A contest and in addition refused to make any eye contact, drawing the eye of the cricket fraternity.

Both the captains submitted their respective group sheets to the match referee Andy Pycroft from Zimbabwe, spoke with the TV commentator Ravi Shastri, who was conducting the toss, and headed again of their respective instructions.

It is known that the Indian group’s name concerning the pre and post-match formalities have been mentioned a lot earlier than the ball began rolling.

The choice was taken by an vital member of the assist workers, who may be very categorical about his stance on all issues regarding Pakistan, and the transfer to not shake palms was definitely endorsed by the BCCI.

“We are aligned with our authorities and the BCCI,” skipper Surya didn’t overlook to say what has already been mentioned by assistant coaches (fielding) Ryan Ten Doeschate and (batting) Sitanshu Kotak throughout earlier media interactions.

India and Pakistan are all set to fulfill once more on the similar venue subsequent Sunday and one can assure that there will likely be a spillover of this rigidity and controversy going ahead. PTI KHS KHS AH AH