NEW DELHI: The no-handshake saga took the cricketing world by storm after Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts following a convincing seven-wicket win in the Asia Cup clash in Dubai on Sunday.

Suryakumar Yadav finished the chase in style with a six and went straight to the dressing room with Shivam Dube after the win, ignoring the Pakistani players for a handshake. The gesture triggered controversy as Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha decided to boycott the post match presentation.

Former Pakistani pacer Shoaib Akhtar was also taken aback by the incident. He described the gesture as disheartening and urged the Men in Blue to keep cricket separate from politics.

"I'm speechless. It is disheartening to see, and I don't know what to say. Hats off to India. Just don't make things political. Cricket match hain isko political mat banao. Hum ne acchi statement di hai aapkee liye," Aktar said.

"Hum bohot kuchh bol sakte hai. Hoti rehte hain ladayi jhagre, ghar me bhi ho jaati hain. (Don't make a cricket match political. We have said nice things about you. We can say a lot of things about the no handshake. Fights happen, even inside your house. Forget it, move on. It is the game of cricket, shake your hands, show your grace.)," Akhtar said.

Suryakumar had earlier justified the decision to not shake hands with the opposition, saying it was their way of showing solidarity with the families of the Pahalgam terrorist attack victims.

Twenty six Indian tourists were killed by Pakistan-backed terrorists, prompting India to launch Operation Sindoor in retaliation.

"We took a team call. We had come only to play. We had given them a reply. Some things are beyond sportsmanship. We dedicate this victory to our armed forces who took part in 'Operation Sindoor' and stand with families of the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack," said Suryakumar after the emphatic win.