Former Pakistani captain Rashid Latif has slammed Team India and its captain Suryakumar Yadav for their conduct after the Asia Cup 2025 match in Dubai on Sunday, September 14. India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in a one-sided contest.

Following the toss, Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Salman Agha. Later, he and Shivam Dube headed straight to the dressing room after he hit a six to seal India's triumph. When the Indian team closed the changing room doors, the Pakistani players were left waiting for a handshake.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav brought up the Pahalgam terror attack in his post-match presentation speech and took a moment to honor the efforts and contributions of the Indian Armed Forces.

In a furious response, Rashid Latif said that India's actions during the Asia Cup game in Dubai created "a wrong impression" and introduced politics into the game.

“Wars have happened before, too, but we have always shaken hands. These things will remain a blot for a lifetime. In his interviews, Sunil Gavaskar talks about Javed Miandad, but he never says they didn’t shake hands. We represent our countries, but I personally think what happened was not right,” Latif told Times of India.

Following the terrorist incident in Pahalgam that killed 26 Indian tourists and India's subsequent Operation Sindoor against terrorist strongholds across the border, the match went ahead despite calls for a boycott.

Salman Ali Agha and Suryakumar Yadav, the captains, submitted their team sheets to match referee Andy Pycroft without making eye contact at the toss, demonstrating the tension right away.

Latif, the former Pakistan captain, further intensified his criticism by linking the incident to the recent Pahalgam terror attack.

“Your reservations in terms of war or the Pahalgam attack are legitimate. But when you come to the ground, play the sport the right way. If Pakistan is involved in the Pahalgam attack, then catch those who are responsible. ‘Jung hi kar lete, woh bhi nahi ki puri tarah se’ (India should have fought the war, but they didn’t even do that properly). India should have fought the war; they should not have backed out,” he added.

“To hide their own mistakes, a lot of things are being done politically. What happened on the ground was not correct,” Latif signed off.

India and Pakistan have one more group match left, respectively, and will most likely face off at least once more in the second round of the Asia Cup 2025.