Overview
- Salman Ali Agha, speaking on an ARY podcast Saturday, said a match referee told him before the toss that India would not shake hands.
- Agha said he and Suryakumar Yadav shook hands at a pre-tournament press event and trophy shoot, yet there was no handshake at the toss or after the match, and his team found the Indian dressing room closed when they went to greet players.
- Reports say India carried the no-handshake approach into the T20 World Cup 2026 and that women’s and under‑19 teams followed the same practice.
- Coverage ties India’s stance to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack and to Operation Sindoor, describing it as an act of solidarity with victims during a period of strained ties.
- The episode also extended to ceremony protocol, with reports that ACC chief and PCB head Mohsin Naqvi left the Asia Cup final venue with the trophy that India has not formally received.