The much-hyped India–Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup promised fireworks but turned out to be a damp squib, a one-sided affair that underlined India’s firepower in the shortest format. Yet the headlines weren’t only about bat and ball. What stole the thunder was India’s players refusing to shake hands with their rivals, followed by skipper Suryakumar Yadav dragging politics into the mix. Many Sri Lankan fans were quick to brand it not “in the spirit of cricket.” Really?

Lest we forget, long before India’s cold shoulder in Dubai, Sri Lanka had done the same. In the 2023 World Cup, tempers flared during an ODI against Bangladesh when Angelo Mathews became the first player in history to be timed out. Incensed, the Sri Lankans boycotted the post-match handshake. Their argument? While within the letter of the law, the appeal against Mathews was against the spirit of the game.

India’s conduct in Dubai was unsporting; Sri Lanka’s in Delhi, equally so. The contrast? India pulled the stunt after winning, Sri Lanka after losing, which reeked of sour grapes. Win or lose, a true sportsman must tip his hat to the opposition. Respect for the game should always rise above personal grief.

Such episodes are rare in cricket. The only other case that springs to mind came in 2008 when New Zealand refused to shake hands with England after Grant Elliott was controversially run out following a collision with bowler Ryan Sidebottom. The Black Caps felt skipper Paul Collingwood should have withdrawn the appeal.

Sport beyond cricket has seen similar stormy endings. When Chicago Bulls dethroned Detroit Pistons in the 1991 NBA Eastern Finals, the Pistons walked off without so much as a handshake. Michael Jordan never forgave them. A year later, when the Dream Team was assembled for the Barcelona Olympics, Jordan agreed to join only on condition that Pistons’ star Isiah Thomas was left out. Not one Detroit player made the cut.

This year in Miami Open, Ukraine’s tennis player Marta Kostyuk refused to shake hands with Russia’s Anastasia Potapova, citing the war back home.

India’s reaction come after the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir where 26 civilians were killed. India closed the borders and expelled Pakistani diplomats in New Delhi.

Many feared a full scale war between the two nuclear armed neighbours but a ceasefire was announced within days.

There were even doubts that India will feature in the Asia Cup, but while not withdrawing from the event, the Indian government seem to have instructed the team not have much of an interaction with the opposition.

Rex Clementine in Dubai