Pakistan head coach Mike Hesson has expressed his disappointment after Indian players snubbed members of his team by declining to engage in the customary post-match handshakes following their Asia Cup Group A clash on Sunday, saying his team had expected the gesture regardless of the result.
“We were ready to shake hands. Disappointed the opposition didn’t do that,” Hesson said in the post-match press conference, stressing that Pakistan viewed the handshake as a traditional show of respect between rivals. It is reported that Hesson also met the match referee following the incident, though no official statement has been issued regarding this.
The controversy overshadowed what was otherwise a commanding performance by India, who cruised to a seven-wicket win at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium. Chasing 128, skipper Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with an unbeaten 47 off 37 deliveries, supported by Shivam Dube’s 10 not out, as India sealed victory in just 15.5 overs. Earlier, Kuldeep Yadav’s brilliant 3-18 had dismantled Pakistan’s batting lineup, restricting them to 127/9.
