Handshake spat bad for cricket, says Pakistan captain ahead of India final

Dubai: Pakistan captain Salman Agha condemned India s refusal to shake hands with their arch rivals, calling it not good for cricket before Sunday s...

Dubai: Pakistan captain Salman Agha condemned India's refusal to shake hands with their arch-rivals, calling it "not good for cricket" before Sunday's high-stakes Asia Cup final in Dubai.

Political tension and on-field friction have stalked the teams at the regional tournament following a deadly military conflict between the nuclear-armed neighbours in May.

India angered Pakistan by not shaking hands in either of the first two meetings between the teams in the UAE. Unbeaten India won comfortably in the group stage and did so again in the Super Four round.

The tension increased when players exchanged words during last Sunday's clash, with India filing an official complaint over gestures made by Pakistan duo Haris Rauf and Sahibzada Farhan.

Agha said the lack of handshakes had left him perplexed.