Watch- Pakistan finally enters opposition dressing room in Dubai as Indian player opens the door

Pakistan cricketers visited the United Arab Emirates (UAE) team’s dressing room after the match between the two teams during the ongoing Asia Cup 2025. UAE coach Lalchand Rajput welcomed the Pakistan cricketers and coaching staff, which grabbed the attention of fans on social media platforms.

There was uncertainty over the Pakistan-UAE match following the handshake controversy. The Men in Green defeated the United Arab Emirates by 41 runs in Dubai on September 17 and sealed their Super Four spot in the eight-team event. Salman Ali Agha's side will take on arch-rival India in the Super Four stage.

Watch: Pakistan Enters Opposition Dressing Room

Pakistan visited the UAE squad’s dressing room after the recent match. The Pakistani contingent entered the dressing room after Lalchand Rajput welcomed them.

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Pakistan and the UAE shook hands inside the dressing room. Players share cricketing insights, providing youngsters in the UAE squad a chance to learn from Pakistan’s experienced players.

Watch the video of the same posted by a user on X (formerly known as Twitter) below:

The Pakistan team visited the UAE team's dressing room after the match.

- A great gesture by Pakistan team. 🇵🇰pic.twitter.com/hG05Wrm5ko

— Sheri. (@CallMeSheri1_) September 18, 2025

The UAE cricket team has players with roots in both India and Pakistan. Simranjeet Singh, Rahul Chopra, Harshit Kaushik, Dhruv Parashar, and Alishan Sharafu are of Indian origin.

On the other side, the Pakistani-origin contingent is also part of the team. Skipper Muhammad Waseem, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Rohid, and Asif Khan are from Pakistan.

Pakistan-UAE Match Started an Hour Late Due to Handshake Controversy

The clash between Pakistan and the UAE started an hour late due to the handshake controversy. Junaid Siddique ran through the top order, leaving Pakistan reeling at 9-2 inside three overs. Saim Ayub perished for his third consecutive duck.

Fakhar Zaman scored a 36-ball fifty and added a 61-run partnership with skipper Salman Agha. However, the middle order collapsed again. Left-arm spinner Simranjeet Singh (3-26) initiated another slide, reducing Pakistan to 110-7.

Shaheen Afridi scored 29 runs off 14 balls, featuring three fours and two sixes. Pakistan managed to post a total of 146-9 in 20 overs. With the ball, Afridi struck early and finished with 2-16.

Haris Rauf dismissed Dhruv Parashar and ended a 48-run stand with Rahul Chopra. The UAE lost seven wickets for just 20 runs to be bowled out for 105. Abrar Ahmed (2-13) and part-timer Saim Ayub chipped in as Pakistan sealed a crucial victory.

We Are Not Talking about Indo-Pak Tensions - UAE Skipper

UAE captain Muhammad Waseem stated that his side is united by cricket, not divided by national origins. He described the squad as a family, saying players of different backgrounds live and play together with one identity.

“No, we are not talking about that (Indo-Pak tensions) as we play a lot of cricket together. We are like a family here. There is no Indian and no Pakistani. We play for the UAE team. We play as a family and live as a family,” Waseem said.

Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Salman Ali Agha at the toss. The Men in Blue also skipped the handshake after the match. India closed the door of the dressing room after the match.

Also read: Jasprit Bumrah OUT of Asia Cup 2025 match; replacement picked