Tensions between India and Pakistan have once again spilled over from the battlefield to the cricket ground. Following India’s victory over Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi stirred controversy by linking the win to the recent cross-border conflict.
On social media, Modi referred to “#OperationSindoor” – India’s military operation during the May clashes with Pakistan – saying the outcome was the same: “India wins!”. This statement has sparked heated debate across the region.
The May conflict, which left over 70 people dead in missile and drone strikes, was triggered by an attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 22 tourists. India blamed Pakistan, a charge Islamabad strongly rejected. Both sides claimed victory, but reports later confirmed India lost several fighter jets during the exchange.
The political tensions carried over into cricket. During the Asia Cup final, the Indian cricket team refused to shake hands with Pakistani players and even declined to accept the winner’s trophy from Asia Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister and PCB chairman. Instead, only individual awards were collected by Indian players Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Kuldeep Yadav.
Naqvi, notably, was the only official on stage who did not applaud the Indian cricketers. Pakistan’s captain Salman Agha criticized India’s behavior, saying, “What they did today, a good team doesn’t do that. Good teams wait, respect the game, and accept their medals.”
This latest controversy has further strained India-Pakistan cricket relations, raising questions about sportsmanship, politics in cricket, and the future of bilateral sporting ties.
For further reading, see coverage by Al Jazeera, Reuters, and BBC News.
