India refusing handshake with Pakistan in Asia Cup was 'sad', says Kumail Nanjiani: 'Such a shame'

Hollywood actor Kumail Nanjiani said the Indian players refusing to shake hands with Pakistan in the 2025 Asia Cup matches was a shameful moment in the rivalry where cricketers from both the countries used to treat each other with respect.

Nanjiani, known for his role as Dinesh in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley, talked about the changing nature of the India-Pakistan cricketing rivalry on actor Hasan Minhaj's YouTube channel.

'India vs Pakistan matches different now' 

Nanjiani, who was born in Karachi, said the rivalry has changed on two counts and not just one.

“I think what was cool about India-Pakistan matches, which isn’t so true anymore – one, we were two of the best teams in the world, now Pakistan is not that great and India is the best team in the world. India-Pakistan matches are very tough for me… But also, the big thing about the India-Pakistan matches was that our countries did not get along but the people did. We are the same people, the same culture, the same language. So when we played cricket, you really felt the similarities rather than the differences and I feel like there was a brotherhood vibe to India-Pakistan matches,” Nanjiani told Minhaj.

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“It was not hatred. There was real respect. Those players respected each other and were friends with each other. There would be heated whatever… But I remember watching these matches that yeah, we are all the same people. I never felt like those teams did not like each other. It is different now,” the actor added.

Indian players had refused to shake hands with Pakistani players in the Asia Cup where the two teams faced each other thrice. Indian team continued with their stance on all three occasions as they beat Pakistan every time including the final to win the trophy. Nanjiani found it to be a shameful act.

“India refused to shake hands with the Pakistan team and I find that to be such a shame because sport is the one time when we can actually put everything aside and play… Really respect each other that we are equal. And the lack of handshake really was very sad,” he said.

Indian team has continued with its no-handshake approach in other cricket tournaments as well like the Women's World Cup and the U-19 Asia Cup.