• Source:JND
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IND vs PAK Handshake Row: Sourav Ganguly, a former India captain who led India to the 2003 World Cup final, expressed his views on the Indian team's choice to forgo handshakes with Pakistan during their encounter in the current T20 Asia Cup, stating that the team acted according to their beliefs. In one of the notable moments during the match, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his batting partner Shivam Dube left the field without shaking hands with the Pakistani players. Not just the handshake, Suryakumar dedicated the victory to the armed forces and conveyed his support for the victims in Pahalgam during the Asia Cup match against Pakistan on Sunday.

The historic India-Pakistan rivalry has turned bitter with another chapter to its ongoing saga. This match marked the first clash between the two countries since the Pahalgam terror attacks on India in April and the subsequent initiation of Operation Sindoor by the Indian Armed Forces against terror backed by Pakistan, resulting in heightened tensions.

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BCCI and Indian cricket players faced a barrage of criticism for proceeding with the match in the multi-nation tournament. However, India achieved a comfortable seven-wicket victory, courtesy of the impressive performances put up by skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Abhishek Sharma with the bat.

While speaking to ANI, Sourav Ganguly said, "The team did what it thought. Terrorism should not happen. Be it India, Pakistan, Russia, Ukraine, or Qatar. What happened in Bangladesh should not happen. Sports is different. Not everyone plays sports, and the majority of people who get killed are not sportsmen. They are normal people. So I think this should not happen."

PCB Complaints To ICC Over Handshake Row

Earlier today, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi demanded "immediate removal" of the match referee of India-Pakistan Asia Cup clash, Andy Pycroft, "over the violation of the ICC Code of Conduct and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) Laws."

Speaking on the incident, Naqvi wrote on X, "The PCB has lodged a complaint with the ICC regarding violations by the Match Referee of the ICC Code of Conduct and the MCC Laws pertaining to the Spirit of Cricket. The PCB has demanded an immediate removal of the Match Referee from the Asia Cup."

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Following the match, Pakistan skipper Salman Agha chose not to attend the post-match presentation, and for the press conference, head coach Mike Hesson was sent to face the media. 

Inputs from ANI