In the high-stakes Super Four match of Asia Cup 2025 on Sunday, tensions spilled over between India’s opening pair Abhishek Sharma and Shubman Gill and Pakistan’s pace attack led by Shaheen Afridi and Haris Rauf.
India, chasing a target of 172 after Pakistan posted 171/5 in their 20 overs, got off to a fiery start in the Powerplay.
After Abhishek hammered Shaheen Afridi for two boundaries in the fourth over, Gill — at non-striker’s end — roared in with a retort, apparently in response to something Afridi said at the start of that very over.
The confrontation didn’t end there. Haris Rauf, brought into the attack, also found himself in verbal exchange with Abhishek, who was visibly riled. Gill too joined the fray, backing his opening partner as the umpires and fielders looked on trying to cool tempers.
Earlier in the match, Sahibzada Farhan top-scored for Pakistan with 58, while Shivam Dube picked up two key wickets. But India’s fielding lapses, including dropped catches by Abhishek, Kuldeep Yadav, and Gill, handed Pakistan reprieves.
No handshake with Pakistan, again
Team India Captain Suryakumar Yadav once again declined to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart Salman Agha after winning the toss, repeating a stance that had provoked anger in their previous meeting at the same venue.
Asia Cup face-off marked the first cricketing encounter between the two neighbours since a four-day war in May.
The fallout carried over into the cricket, with Pakistan formally protesting to the International Cricket Council over match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging he had advised Agha not to approach Suryakumar for a handshake. PCB demanded Pycroft’s removal and even threatened to withdraw from the eight-team T20 competition.
Given strained political ties, India and Pakistan only face each other at neutral venues during multi-team tournaments. India came into the Super Four phase unbeaten after three group-stage wins, while Pakistan qualified second from their pool with two victories and one defeat.
“Since the first round we were thinking we’re playing a knockout tournament, nothing changes,” Suryakumar said at the toss.
Pakistan skipped their scheduled pre-match press conference, though Agha maintained that “the mood is normal” in his camp.
India, chasing a target of 172 after Pakistan posted 171/5 in their 20 overs, got off to a fiery start in the Powerplay.
After Abhishek hammered Shaheen Afridi for two boundaries in the fourth over, Gill — at non-striker’s end — roared in with a retort, apparently in response to something Afridi said at the start of that very over.
The confrontation didn’t end there. Haris Rauf, brought into the attack, also found himself in verbal exchange with Abhishek, who was visibly riled. Gill too joined the fray, backing his opening partner as the umpires and fielders looked on trying to cool tempers.
Earlier in the match, Sahibzada Farhan top-scored for Pakistan with 58, while Shivam Dube picked up two key wickets. But India’s fielding lapses, including dropped catches by Abhishek, Kuldeep Yadav, and Gill, handed Pakistan reprieves.
No handshake with Pakistan, again
Team India Captain Suryakumar Yadav once again declined to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart Salman Agha after winning the toss, repeating a stance that had provoked anger in their previous meeting at the same venue.
Asia Cup face-off marked the first cricketing encounter between the two neighbours since a four-day war in May.
The fallout carried over into the cricket, with Pakistan formally protesting to the International Cricket Council over match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging he had advised Agha not to approach Suryakumar for a handshake. PCB demanded Pycroft’s removal and even threatened to withdraw from the eight-team T20 competition.
Given strained political ties, India and Pakistan only face each other at neutral venues during multi-team tournaments. India came into the Super Four phase unbeaten after three group-stage wins, while Pakistan qualified second from their pool with two victories and one defeat.
“Since the first round we were thinking we’re playing a knockout tournament, nothing changes,” Suryakumar said at the toss.
Pakistan skipped their scheduled pre-match press conference, though Agha maintained that “the mood is normal” in his camp.
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