India and Pakistan players before an Asia Cup match. (Getty Images)
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor addressed the controversy surrounding Indian cricketers’ refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup tournament, suggesting that sports should remain separate from politics and military conflicts, as both teams prepare for a potential final clash on Sunday.“I personally feel that once the decision had been made to play, if we feel so strongly about Pakistan, we should not have played… But if we are going to play them, we should play in the spirit of a game, and we should have shaken their hands… We have done this before in 1999, when the Kargil War was going on. On the very day the soldiers were dying for our country, we were playing the World Cup in England against Pakistan. We were shaking their hands even then because the spirit of the game is a different spirit from what goes on between countries, between Armies and so on. That is my view,” Tharoor said.“If the Pakistani team, having been insulted the first time, decided to insult us back the second time, it shows that the spirit of the game is lacking on both sides,” he added.
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Tensions have escalated after the second episode in the Asia Cup. The BCCI has filed an official complaint with the ICC and match referee Andy Pycroft against Pakistani players Sahibzada Farhan and Haris Rauf for their conduct during the Asia Cup Super Four match on September 21.The complaint specifically highlights Sahibzada Farhan’s controversial half-century celebration, where he held his bat like a gun, which was viewed as insensitive and provocative.Haris Rauf’s behaviour also came under scrutiny for showing aggression after dismissing Sanju Samson and making a “0-6” gesture to Indian spectators, referring to Pakistan’s claims about downing Indian fighter jets during the border clash following India’s Operation Sindoor in May.Rauf’s actions went viral on social media, drawing criticism from Indian fans who responded by chanting “Virat Kohli,” referencing the Indian batter’s memorable sixes against Rauf during the T20 World Cup 2022 in Melbourne.The Pakistan Cricket Board has also filed two complaints with the ICC against Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav regarding his comments about the Pahalgam incident after the September 14 game, which they claim was political in nature.On the pitch, India have dominated their encounters with Pakistan in the tournament, winning both matches as they advanced to the finals, with the possibility of facing Pakistan again in Sunday’s final, should they beat Bangladesh.
