Daijiworld Media Network – Dubai

Dubai, Sep 21: Amid heightened Indo-Pak tensions and the Asia Cup 2025 “no-handshake” controversy, UAE cricketers, mostly of Indian and Pakistani origin, emphasized unity and camaraderie within their team.

Seventeen members of the UAE squad hail from India and Pakistan, including Pune-born all-rounder Dhruv Parashar, Simranjeet Singh, Rahul Chopra, and Pakistan-born captain Muhammad Waseem, Haider Ali, and Asif Khan. Despite national differences, players said the dressing room feels like a family.

“Nationality doesn’t matter for us. We play as players, not as citizens of India or Pakistan. We represent UAE, and that respect brings us together,” said Haider Ali. Parashar added, “We have been playing together for years. The bonding is very good, and personally, I’ve never thought about nationality. We all play like a family, with camaraderie.”

The UAE team’s approach stood in contrast to the Indo-Pak match, where Indian players avoided handshakes to honor the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. UAE players say their focus remains entirely on cricket, leaving political tensions aside.