Asia Cup: Indian Players Shake Hands with Former Pakistani Cricketer, Sparks Debate on Patriotism

Dubai: A unique moment during the Asia Cup Super Four clash between **India and Bangladesh** has gone viral after Indian players, including captain **Suryakumar Yadav**, were seen shaking hands with former Pakistani cricketer **Mushtaq Ahmed**, who currently serves as Bangladesh’s bowling coach.

India defeated Bangladesh in the crucial match to secure their place in the **T20 Asia Cup final**. Following the game, players and officials from both teams exchanged handshakes as a gesture of sportsmanship. During this, Indian cricketers shook hands with Mushtaq Ahmed — a moment captured on camera and widely shared on social media.

The image sparked mixed reactions, with some questioning the **“patriotism” of Indian players**, given the tense cricket rivalry and political backdrop between India and Pakistan.

Interestingly, this came after repeated instances where **Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refrained from shaking hands with Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha** during earlier matches of the tournament. A similar incident was noted during the toss of this match, when Bangladesh’s captain Jaker Ali ignored Yadav and avoided a handshake after winning the toss.

Social media users in Pakistan expressed amusement over the development, pointing out the contrast between avoiding Pakistani players on the field while still engaging in handshakes with a **Pakistani coach off it**.