Handshake Controversy: Ricky Ponting Responds to Misattributed Comments

Australian cricket legend Ricky Ponting has responded to the online propagation of false comments attributed to him following the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match. After India’s victory, the Indian team chose not to shake hands with the Pakistani team, which led to the spread of a fabricated quote that claimed Ponting had criticized the Indian team’s behavior. Ponting has issued a statement denying these comments and clarifying that he has not made any public statements about the Asia Cup. The Indian captain, Suryakumar Yadav, stated that the team’s decision was made in conjunction with the Indian government. This move prompted an official complaint from the Pakistan Cricket Board and ACC chairman Mohsin Naqvi to the ICC, leading to a call for the suspension of match referee Andy Pycroft. Despite the controversy, the match proceeded as planned, with the potential for future encounters between the teams.