Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi criticized India and the BCCI after Suryakumar Yadav’s team refused handshakes with Pakistan players following their Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai. India defeated Pakistan by 7 wickets but chose to skip post-match greetings, sparking controversy. Afridi said the act showed “no sportsman spirit” and called it an “embarrassment in front of the world.” Pakistan coach Mike Hesson and skipper Salman Ali Agha also expressed anger. The PCB has threatened to withdraw from the tournament if referee Andy Pycroft continues. Afridi claimed Indian players acted under pressure from boycott campaigns in India. (PC: HT)

India achieved a historic Davis Cup victory in Biel, defeating Switzerland 3-1 in the World Group I tie. This was India’s first away win against a European team in 32 years, last coming against France in 1993. Sumit Nagal was the hero, winning both his singles matches, including a 6-1, 6-3 triumph over 18-year-old Henry Bernet in the decisive rubber. Debutant Dhakshineswar Suresh also stunned Swiss No.1 Jerome Kym. Although Switzerland won the doubles clash, India sealed the tie to qualify for the 2026 World Group Qualifiers. Ranked 37, India upset ninth-seeded Switzerland with this memorable win. (PC: India Today)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has warned the International Cricket Council (ICC) that it could pull out of the Asia Cup 2025 if its demands are not met. The controversy began when Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistan after their Group A match in Dubai. PCB alleged match referee Andy Pycroft asked captains not to shake hands at the toss, calling it a breach of the Spirit of Cricket. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi demanded Pycroft’s removal. Reports say Pakistan may boycott their September 17 match against UAE if the referee is not dropped. (PC: HT)

The India vs Pakistan Asia Cup 2025 clash in Dubai left fans stunned as many seats remained empty. The 25,000-capacity stadium is usually sold out for this rivalry, but political tensions and boycott calls kept crowds away. Social media users shared surprise, with one posting, “Never in my life have I seen a stadium so empty for an Indo-Pak match.” Another wrote, “Seats are empty for the first time in an India-Pakistan match.” This was the first meeting between the two nations since the Pahalgam terror attack, adding to the tense atmosphere around the game. (PC: NDTV/Instagram)

Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi strongly criticised India for refusing handshakes with Pakistan players in Dubai. After India’s seven-wicket win, led by stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav, the team chose not to shake hands, upsetting Pakistan’s side. Naqvi posted on X that politics should not enter sports. Suryakumar defended the move, saying, “Some things in life are above sportsmanship. We dedicate this win to victims of the Pahalgam attack and our armed forces.” Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha skipped the post-match ceremony. The snub sparked heated debate across cricket and social media. (PC: X)

India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in the Asia Cup 2025, chasing 128 with 25 balls to spare. Skipper Suryakumar Yadav dedicated the win to the armed forces and the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. “We stand with the families of the victims and express our solidarity,” he said. Opposition parties had urged India to boycott the match, accusing the government of choosing “profit over blood.” Indian players also avoided handshakes with Pakistan as a tribute to the victims. Pakistan captain Salman Agha skipped the presentation ceremony in protest, while coach Mike Hesson expressed disappointment. (PC: AP)

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has lodged an official protest against Team India after players refused to shake hands during the Asia Cup 2025 match. PCB called the move “unsportsmanlike” and against the spirit of cricket. Match referee Andy Pycroft had informed Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha before the toss not to approach Suryakumar Yadav or Indian players. After the game, India went straight to the dressing room. Indian players said the gesture was a tribute to soldiers and civilians killed in the Pahalgam terror attack. Salman skipped the post-match ceremony in protest against India’s behaviour. (PC: AFP, PTI)

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav dedicated his team’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 to the Indian armed forces. After the match, he expressed solidarity with the victims of the recent Pahalgam terror attack. “We stand by the families of the victims of Pahalgam,” Suryakumar said in the post-match press conference. “We express our solidarity and want to dedicate the win to all our armed forces. Hope they continue to inspire us all.” India chased down 128 runs in 15.5 overs, with Suryakumar and Shivam Dube guiding the team to a convincing Group A victory.

India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets in their Asia Cup 2025 Group A match but refused the customary post-match handshake. Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dube, who guided India past the 128-run target in 15.5 overs, walked straight to the dressing room without greeting Pakistan players. Reports said none of the Indian squad came out to meet their rivals, despite Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and his team waiting outside. Pakistan’s white-ball coach Mike Hesson was reportedly angered by the incident. Handshakes are tradition, not rule, but India’s decision highlighted the tense atmosphere surrounding the India-Pakistan rivalry. (PC: X)

India’s Jaismine Lamboria (57kg) and Minakshi Hooda (48kg) made history by winning gold medals at the World Boxing Championships 2025. Jaismine defeated Paris Olympics silver medallist Julia Szeremeta of Poland 4-1 in the final, saying, “I have no words to describe how I am feeling.” Minakshi, a debutant, out-punched Paris Olympics bronze medallist Nazym Kyzaibay of Kazakhstan 4-1, avenging her World Cup loss in July. India also won silver and bronze through Nupur Sheoran (80+kg) and Pooja Rani (80kg). The victories marked India’s best-ever campaign in women’s boxing on foreign soil, highlighting the nation’s growing strength in the sport. (PC: NDTV)