hollywood actor Kumail Nanjiani did not hold back from reacting to a tense cricket moment at this year’s Asia Cup when the Indian cricket team decided not to shake hands with Pakistani players. He described it as a “shameful” moment and lamented how animosity had taken away the true spirit of the game.
Kumail Nanjiani criticized the Indian cricket team
The Hollywood actor, who has his roots in Pakistan, shares his thoughts on joining the actor Hasan Minhaj for one of his videos Youtube channelThe two discussed India-Pakistan relations and highlighted how cricket matches have become a major event between the two countries,
“I think what was good about India-Pakistan matches, which is not so true now – one, we were the two 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 at the same time, the great thing about India-Pakistan matches was that our countries were not with each other but people were with each other. We are the same people, same culture, same language. So when we played cricket, When we played, you really felt the similarities rather than the differences and I feel like there was an atmosphere of brotherhood in the India-Pakistan matches,” Kumail shared.
When Hasan asked if there was any animosity leading up to the matches, Kumail clarified that there was not, adding that the players really respect each other.
Kumail said, “It wasn’t hatred. There was real respect. Those players respected each other and were friends with each other. Whatever happens, there will be heat… But I remember watching these matches that yes, we are all the same people. I never felt like those teams didn’t like each other. Now it’s different.”
At that time, Kumail had mentioned the India-Pakistan match in September, where the Indian players did not shake hands with the Pakistani players.
“India refused to shake hands with the Pakistan team and I find it a great shame because sports is the time when we can really put everything aside and play… really respect each other that we are equals. And the lack of handshake was really very sad,” he shared.
India rejects the practice of shaking hands with Pakistan after the match
In September, the players of the Indian team did not shake hands with Pakistan players at the end of the Group A match of the Asia Cup 2025, the traditional post-match match. India defeated Pakistan by seven wickets while chasing 128 runs with 25 balls remaining in the match.
captain After the end of the game, Suryakumar Yadav and Shivam Dubey went straight towards the dressing room without shaking hands with the Pakistani players. According to reports, despite Pakistan captain Salman Ali Aga and his team waiting outside the Indian dressing room, no one from the Indian team came out of the dugout to welcome their Pakistani counterparts. The two captains did not shake hands after Pakistan won the toss and decided to bat first. He didn’t even make eye contact.
More about Kumail Nanjiani
Pakistani-American stand-up comedian and actor best known for his role as Dinesh in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley and co-writing and starring in the comedy film The Big Sick. He was also seen in the Marvel film Eternals.