365telugu.com online news,september,18th 2025:Former India captain Kapil Dev has strongly criticised the Pakistan cricket team and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for creating unnecessary controversy after India chose not to shake hands with Pakistan following their Asia Cup 2025 group match in Dubai. He stressed that instead of issuing “wrong statements,” the focus should remain on cricket.
What Happened
- After the high-voltage India–Pakistan clash in Group A, the captains did not exchange handshakes.
- Pakistan skipper Salman Agha boycotted the post-match presentation in protest.
- The PCB accused match referee Andy Pycroft of instructing the captains at the toss not to shake hands. They urged the ICC to intervene, even threatening to withdraw from the tournament and demanded Pycroft’s removal. The ICC dismissed the complaint.
- Ahead of their game against UAE, Pakistan players were held back at their hotel, awaiting clearance from the board in Islamabad, which led to an hour-long delay. The PCB later claimed Pycroft had apologised.
Kapil Dev’s Response
- Kapil clarified that handshakes are a tradition, not a rule, and players are free to decide whether to follow it.
- He said the issue was being blown out of proportion and warned that such actions could spark bigger controversies.
- He also criticised Pakistan’s on-field performance, urging them to improve their cricket rather than dwell on off-field disputes.
Confidence in Team India
- Kapil expressed confidence that India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, is well-placed to defend its Asia Cup title.
- He praised India’s consistency in ICC tournaments over the past two decades.
Match Results So Far
- India has convincingly defeated both UAE (by 9 wickets) and Pakistan (by 7 wickets) in Group A, chasing down targets with ease in both matches.