By Deepak Parvatiyar*
No Shake, Pure Stake: Snub Steals Show
Cricket’s no longer a game—it’s a subcontinental slugfest where a handshake snub morphs into a patriot’s manifesto, stealing the Asia Cup’s thunder with more fizz than a Diwali cracker. India’s squad, carrying a nation’s raw grief, turned silence into a statement, leaving Pakistan’s players as props in a drama that’s less sport and more geopolitical soap opera, racing through WhatsApp wars and newsroom rants. This isn’t about stumps—it’s about staking claims, with pride pummeling protocol in a borderless brawl that’s got the world hooked.
Pahalgam’s wounds and Operation Sindoor’s swagger fuel the fire. With ties dead since 2013, Dubai’s pitch was a diplomatic duel in disguise. A referee’s half-baked no-handshake tip—botched in delivery to Pakistan—set the stage. India’s post-win huddle skipped Pakistan’s waiting hands, a nod to the fallen and forces over formalities. Suryakumar Yadav framed it as nation-first; the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), flush with Indian Premier League (IPL) crores and tied to power via Jay Shah, called handshakes optional, dodging the fallout like a seasoned neta.
Pakistan’s riposte was pure masala. Manager Naveed Akram Cheema protested faster than a Delhi auto meter. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi stormed X, mourning cricket’s “spirit.” They charged to the International Cricket Council (ICC), alleging code breaches, demanding the referee’s head, and threatening to ditch the Asia Cup. ICC shrugged: Handshakes aren’t the law. No fines, no swap, though the referee sat out one match. Pakistan’s boycott bluff collapsed; they played the United Arab Emirates, fury fading. Then, the real drama: the PCB sacked their Director of Cricket Operations for flubbing the no-handshake memo to captain Salman Agha. It’s a scapegoat masterstroke, screaming internal chaos—a board scrambling to dodge blame, projecting defiance while tripping over its own feet. Where’s this agony aunt headed? Toward a meltdown, with more sackings and less strategy, chasing optics over order.
In India, the snub was a blockbuster. Memes crowned Yadav a deshbhakt, #NoHandshakeNoProblem trending like festive sales. The Bharatiya Janata Party hitched it to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strongman vibe, milking Pahalgam and Sindoor for applause. With BCCI’s clout—crores and connections—this felt like policy in pads. But why play? A boycott wouldn’t have roared louder than this heartfelt gesture—win, snub, and resonate with a grieving janta’s pulse.
Pakistan plays victim like a pro. Outrage legit, but amped to absurdity. Boycott threats, then backpedalling? Classic cat clawing the pole, masking a thrashing. Coach Mike Hesson said his boys were ready for palms; Agha skipped media in solidarity. The ICC plea, waving the “spirit” flag, ignores Pakistan’s own politicking past. Both boards brawl: India swings BCCI’s bucks, Pakistan peddles pity. ICC, ever neutral, oversees a stalemate, while fans, starved for Indo-Pak duels, navigate a charged clash.
India’s Opposition? Vanished. The Congress-INDIA bloc—Rahul Gandhi, Sharad Pawar—is mute on the snub. Slamming the team amid patriot fever? Political poison. Instead, Shahid Afridi’s curveball—praising Rahul’s “dialogue” while slamming Modi as Gaza’s echo—drags them in. BJP pounces: “Pakistan’s poster boy!” Congress counters with BJP-Shahid Afridi selfies, crying hypocrisy. It’s dodgeball deluxe—deflect, don’t debate. The snub? Too hot with deshbhakti chants ringing.
Cricket’s a geopolitical cage now. India’s snub honours raw pain, amplifying a nation’s resolve. Pakistan’s protests spotlight a slight but overplay the victim card. The Opposition’s silence is shrewd but spineless, letting the BJP own the script. ICC’s inaction fuels the circus. No bilaterals since 2013—just neutral-venue flares where politics buries runs. Dubai’s non-shake outhit any six. Cricket endures, pride surges. Ditch the duel or dap discreetly next. Better: talk, off-camera. Till then, this subcontinental storm spins, fans flipping between cheers and jeers.
*Senior journalist
