In a major development, Pakistan's team manager, Naveed Akram Cheema, has reportedly filed an official complaint with the match referee, Andy Pycroft, after the Indian players refused to shake hands with the Men in Green following their seven-wicket victory in the Asia Cup 2025 Group A match at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on Sunday (September 14).

The game was held amidst heightened tensions between the two nations following the Pahalgam terror attack and the retaliatory Operation Sindoor earlier this year.

The BCCI went ahead with the fixture after the Indian government gave the green light to participate in the continental event. In August, the Sports Ministry allowed India to compete against Pakistan in multi-team events, but maintained the ban on bilateral cricket.

Despite the government's approval, several prominent voices, including former cricketers, urged India to boycott their game against the bitter rivals.

Now, a report published in Hindustan Times claimed that the Pakistan management has officially lodged a complaint against the Indian team's gesture, saying they were against "the spirit of sports."

According to the report, an official statement shared by the PCB over WhatsApp confirmed that match referee Pycroft informed Salman Ali Agha not to shake hands with Suryakumar Yadav at the toss, but no instruction was given for the post-match formalities.

"The Pakistani cricket team manager Naveed Akram Cheema has officially lodged a protest against the Indian cricket team, calling the behaviour against the spirit of sports," stated the official statement, as quoted by Hindustan Times.

In another controversial act, Pakistan captain Salman did not come for the post-match interview with the official broadcaster

"Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match presentation in protest against the behaviour of the Indian team," the statement added.

There was a massive backlash among fans against the BCCI and Indian players for not pulling out of the Pakistan fixture. The pre-match atmosphere seemed quite tense. At the toss, Suryakumar pointedly refused to shake hands or acknowledge his Pakistan counterpart.

After hitting the winning runs, Suryakumar Yadav walked back to the dressing room alongside non-striker Shivam Dube, refusing to exchange post-match pleasantries with Pakistan players.

Moreover, the Indian captain dedicated the win over Pakistan to the country’s armed forces and said the national team stood in solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

In the post-match presser, Suryakumar also hinted that the decision not to shake hands was pre-planned. "Our government and BCCI, we were aligned together. The rest, we came here, we took a call. I feel we came here just to play the game. I think we gave them a proper reply," he said.

With two wins from as many matches, India sit on top of the Group A points table. With a place in the next round, the Super 4s, all but confirmed, they will take on Oman in their final group-stage match in Abu Dhabi on September 19.

India and Pakistan might face each other twice more in the continental showpiece, given that both teams qualify for Super 4s and final.