 "Does India face penalty for refusing to shake hands with Pakistan after Asia Cup win? Here’s what the ICC rules state")
The marquee fixture of the ongoing Asia Cup between India and Pakistan was as dramatic off the field as it was predictable on it. The Men in Blue triumphed in clinical fashion yet again to extend their dominance over their arch-rivals, restricting Pakistan to a modest 127/9 and later chasing the target down with more than four overs to spare to collect their second consecutive victory.
India's stellar all-round performance against Pakistan, especially Kuldeep Yadav’s three-wicket haul (3/18) as well as match-winning knocks by captain Suryakumar Yadav (47 not out) and Abhishek Sharma (31 off 13), weren’t the only talking points after the match though.
Surya and Co take a stand against Pakistan
The Indians, after all, had refused to shake hands with the Pakistanis after the match, with Surya and all-rounder Shivam Dube joining their teammates in their dressing room and ignoring their opponents who were standing outside. And earlier in the day, SKY and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Ali Agha did not shake hands during the toss, the two not even looking at one another.
The latest meeting between India and Pakistan, and to an extent the tournament itself, has been overshadowed by war and terror, with the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent four-day conflict between the two nuclear powers having taken place less than six months ago.
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And Surya had made it a point to dedicate India's victory to the 26 victims of the deadly terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam as well as the Indian armed forces, which had launched ‘Operation Sindoor’ in retaliation.
What does the ICC rulebook state on post-match handshakes?
Will India’s defiant stance against Pakistan lead to a sanction from the International Cricket Council (ICC) though? And are members of a team mandatorily required to shake the hands of their opponents after a game?
As per the ICC’s Preamble – Spirit of Cricket – players are required to “thank the officials as well as opposition” at the end of the match, regardless of the result.
Impact Shorts
More Shorts“Respect is central to the Spirit of Cricket,” reads the Preamble. “Respect the captain, team-mates, opponents and the authority of the umpires. Play hard and play fair.”
“Congratulate the opposition on their success, and enjoy those of your own team. Thank the officials and your opposition at the end of the match, whatever the result,” reads another section.
Also Read | Akhtar, Latif criticise India over refusal to shake hands with Pakistan: ‘Show your grace...’
And conduct that is “contrary to the spirit of the game” is a Level 1 offence, as per Article 2.1.1 of the ICC Code of Conduct.
So while no official sanction has been announced either for Surya or for the Indian team, there are suggestions that the denial of handshakes could be termed a breach and lead to a minor fine or even a warning.
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