The already intense rivalry between India and Pakistan on the cricket field took a political turn during their latest Asia Cup clash, as players from both sides refrained from the customary post-match handshake.

In the wake of the deadly Pahalgam terror attack in April, which severely strained diplomatic ties between the two nations, the Indian cricket team, led by head coach Gautam Gambhir and senior players, reportedly made a conscious decision to forgo handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts. According to sources within the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) as per news agency PTI, the decision was not impulsive but the outcome of detailed internal discussions involving both the team management and board officials.