The Indian cricket team’s decision to not shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup earlier this year has resurfaced months later, with actor Kumail Nanjiani reacting to the moment and calling it a disturbing sign of how deeply politics has seeped into the sport. This incident happened after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. carried out by Pakistan based terroristsled Nanjiani to consider how cricket, once a rare space for shared identity between the two countries, is increasingly reflecting the hostility between the governments.

Speaking to comedian Hasan Minhaj on his YouTube channel, Nanjiani, who grew up in Pakistan, said,India refused to shake hands With the Pakistan team and I think it’s a great shame because sports is the time when we can really put everything aside and play.” He described the gesture as a missed opportunity for unity at a time when people-to-people connections seem more broken than ever.

Nanjiani compared the present to an earlier era of India–Pakistan cricket, which he said was defined by mutual respect despite political tensions. According to him, the rivalry once highlighted similarities rather than differences.

“I think what was good about the India-Pakistan matches, which is not so true now – one, we were the two best teams in the world, now Pakistan is not that great and India is the best in the world. But at the same time, the great thing about the India-Pakistan matches was that our countries were not at each other but people were at each other. We are the same people, same culture, same language. So when we used to play cricket, you really got to see each other instead of differences. The similarities were felt and I feel like there was a sense of brotherhood there in the India-Pakistan match,” he said, adding that players from both sides respect each other and often share friendships off the field.

Emphasizing the changes that have taken place over the years, Nanjiani said matches are never motivated by hatred. “There was real respect,” he said, recalling how the competitive intensity did not translate into personal animosity. He said, “I never felt that those teams did not like each other. The situation is different now.”

The actor also linked this shift to broader cultural storytelling, pointing to old Bollywood films Amar Akbar Anthony (1977), which celebrated religious and cultural unity. He argued that both Indian and Pakistani cinema today appear to be more driven by nationalism and hostility, a trend he believes is unhelpful. He said, “It was always that the people of India and Pakistan are the same – it’s the governments that have the issues – and now I think that has changed.”

See also

Entertainment

WATCH: Ibrahim Ali Khan hugs Ananya Panday at Call Me Bae screening while Karan Johar smiles at them, this trio gives us the feels of the film

Nanjiani spoke about the personal toll of rising tensions earlier this year, recalling nights when the growing hostility between the two countries left him worried about his family in Karachi. He described feeling a deep sense of sadness and fear during those moments.

Considering the current dynamics, Nanjiani, who is known for his roles in Silicon Valley, The Big Sickand marvel eternalAcknowledged India’s growing economic and cultural influence while noting Pakistan’s ongoing conflicts. He described the imbalance as emotionally complex for those with roots on both sides of the border.

The Asia Cup handshake controversy followed the Pahalgam terror attack, considered one of the deadliest attacks on civilians in recent times, which was carried out by Pakistan-based terrorists who targeted civilians in Jammu and Kashmir, in which 26 people were killed. This tragic incident sparked outrage and grief across the country. The attack raised security concerns and renewed demands for accountability, with sports and cultural exchanges also coming under increased scrutiny. In this backdrop, India’s decision was widely seen as a symbolic stance during the tournament.