Ever since the match between India and Pakistan took place in Asia Cup 2025, the tournament has been marred with controversies. It all began after Suryakumar Yadav & Co. refused to do the customary handshake with the Pakistan team following the match. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) later alleged that match referee Andy Pycroft told Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha to not shake hands with Suryakumar. They also demanded Pycroft's dismissal from Asia Cup.
However, the Internatioanl Cricket Council (ICC) refused to accept the PCB's demands. This led to Pakistan threatening to boycott their final group stage match against UAE, which would have led to their elimination from the tournament. However, they eventually ended up playing the match after an hour's delay.
Former India cricketer Madan Lal launched a scathing attack towards the Pakistan team over the matter and remarked that their demands weren't genuine at all. He further stated that handshakes aren't compulsary and thus no team should force another to shake hands with them during or after the match.
"Pakistan have surrendered because their demand was not genuine. First of all, why should we shake hands with them, it is not mentioned in any rulebook. Secondly, why should match referee Andy Pycroft be sacked. Pakistan have so many people interfering in one matter and if you see the condition of PCB, there's no board. They take a decision just like that and that's not right because at international level, you have to be extremely sure whenever you take any decision," Madan said on India Today.
"If you are not going to play, then who will suffer? You are going to suffer. If Pakistan would have boycotted the match against UAE, they would have caused an irreparable damage to their cricket," he added.
Madan didn't stop here and labelled the current Pakistan team as 'classless', pointing out how they have been increedibly poor in the batting department in Asia Cup.
"Look at the condition of their country. They are suffering from everything now. They had such talented cricketers but look at their team for the last five-six years. The current team which is playing now has no class at all. The way they have batted, I have never seen any Pakistan team batting like that," Madan stated.
India and Pakistan to lock horns again
Meanwhile, India and Pakistan will be facing-off for the second time in the ongoing edition of Asia Cup. The two arch-rivals will be locking horns for a Super 4 clash which will be contested on September 21 and will take place at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.