Dubai, Sept. 14 -- White-ball head coach Mike Hesson explained Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha's absence from the post-match presentation after their limp seven-wicket loss to India at the Asia Cup in Dubai on Sunday. He subtly suggested that their arch-rival's refusal to the customary post-match handshake may have played a part in it.

Before the first ball of the rivalry fixture was bowled, India skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Salman turned heads by not engaging in the traditional handshake after the toss. During the toss, neither skipper maintained eye contact nor tried to initiate a handshake and eschewed the gesture.

India's stance was linked to the strained relations between the two nations in the wake of the terror attack in Jammu ...