Recently, India defeated Pakistan 2-0 in the 11th-place playoff match at the Asia-Oceania Junior Davis Cup (U-16) tournament in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, on Saturday.
Prkaash Sarran and Tavish Pahwa secured straight-set wins in their singles matches, sealing India’s position in the final standings.
However, three days after the encounter, a video surfaced on social media showing a Pakistani player, Mikaeel Ali Baig displaying aggressive and unsportsmanlike behaviour toward his Indian opponent Tavish Pahwaand.
Davis Cup Handshake Controversy
After the match, Baig approached the Indian rival had a disrespectful handshake, repeating the act, and then dismissively shrugging him off. The move was widely condemned as going against the spirit of the game.
🇮🇳 India – 🇵🇰 Pakistan Handshake Drama at the Junior Davis Cup in Kazakhstan
India beat Pakistan 2-0 pic.twitter.com/mI85JBETCo
— Indian Tennis Daily (ITD) (@IndTennisDaily) May 27, 2025
The first attempt from the Pakistani player looked almost like a slap to the hands of the Indian player, however, he missed.
On the second attempt, he did manage to make contact but pulled away his hand immediately in an abrupt manner, highlighting his disappointment with the result.
While the gesture from the Pakistani athlete has sparked outrage, the Indian player earned appreciation for maintaining his composure.
The rude behaviour from Baig comes at a time when the sporting ties between the two countries have hit an all-time low in wake of the terror attack in India’s Pahalgam last. India then led to an onslaught on Pakistani terror camps in the form of “Operation Sindoor” leading the hostility between the two neighbours to hit rock-bottom.
Also Read: Pakistan Hockey Team’s Asia Cup Campaign In Limbo After Pahalgam Terror Attack
The bitter rivalry between the two nations have often reflected in the sports field. Earlier this year, the Indian cricket team refused to travel to Pakistan to play the ICC Champions Trophy. India’s fixtures were then shifted to UAE.
Most recently, the Pakistan’s men hockey team were denied permission to play Asia Cup that is scheduled to be held in India.
