In their most recent encounter in the Asia Cup 2025, India dominated longtime rival Pakistan. The two teams' disparity in expertise was highlighted by cricket supremacy and a lesson learned by Pakistan. Unfortunately for Suryakumar Yadav and his team, the quality of the cricket they played in the contest has not been the topic of conversation following the game.
The Men in Blue's "no-handshake" policy has dominated every conversation at the coffee table. Due to a fake comment that was purported to be Ricky Ponting's during the post-match drama in the India vs Pakistan match, it has descended into yet another social media frenzy, this time bringing the renowned Australian skipper into the crossfire.
Also Read | Owaisi slams India-Pakistan cricket, says ‘victory not with those who made our daughters widows’
Viral tweets circulated within hours after the match, claiming that Ponting had called India "the big losers" on Sky Sports for not shaking hands. The assertion has fundamental flaws. First off, according to several broadcast guides, TNT Sports owns the rights to the 2025 Asia Cup, which will be televised on Discovery+. Sky is not the official broadcaster of the competition in the UK this year.
Ponting, who is currently the coach of the Punjab Kings, later clarified the false allegation as well. On Tuesday, the Aussie legend posted on X: "I am aware of certain comments being attributed to me on social media. Please know that I categorically did not make those statements and indeed have made no public comment about the Asia Cup at all."
However, the fake quote had already been circulated around the outrage machine, platform by platform and screenshot by screenshot, as is frequently the case with rumors of this nature. The false assertion was also reported by Australian media, which also restated Ponting's denial. In some ways, the episode highlights how simple it is to turn fake comments into news in the modern digital age.
In the meantime, India's refusal to shake hands with its opponents has turned into a diplomatic row. With requests to boycott the game in light of the post-geopolitical animosity between the two countries, the atmosphere was already tense before the game.
Pakistan has threatened to boycott the competition in response to Suryakumar Yadav and his team's resolute actions on the issue. According to reports, India is considering skipping the presentation ceremony if they win the championship because ACC president Mohsin Naqvi will be present on the stage.
Discover the latest Business News, Sensex, and Nifty updates. Obtain Personal Finance insights, tax queries, and expert opinions on Moneycontrol or download the Moneycontrol App to stay updated!
