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DUBAI: The team management of India has instructed its players to maintain distance from Pakistani net bowlers during practice sessions at the ICC Academy, sources confirmed on Tuesday.
The directive follows the fallout from the handshake controversy during the Pakistan-India clash at the Asia Cup 2025.
The fixture, played under a tense backdrop, witnessed unusual scenes from the start, with both captains skipping the customary handshake at the toss.
Later, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav, who struck the winning runs, celebrated with teammate Shivam Dube before both walked straight to the dressing room.
While Indian players congratulated each other at the dugout, they refrained from acknowledging or shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
Pakistan’s players, meanwhile, lined up and waited for the customary handshake, only to see the Indian team retreat to their dressing room and close the doors.
However, earlier, during the trophy unveiling ceremony, Yadav was seen shaking hands with Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
Following these controversies, the Indian camp has banned its players from interacting with net bowlers from Pakistan.
Notably, at the ICC Academy, net bowlers from Pakistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and India are routinely brought in to support teams during training.
This time, however, the Indian camp has barred such interactions. Sources revealed that players have been explicitly told to avoid casual conversations or photographs with Pakistani net bowlers.
To enforce the rule, the net bowlers are also required to surrender their mobile phones before practice, with devices returned only after sessions conclude.
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