Ponting Falsely Quoted Amidst India-Pakistan Handshake Controversy

Ricky Ponting denies a viral quote falsely attributed to him after a handshake controversy in the India-Pakistan Asia Cup match. The incident escalated tensions as Pakistan filed a complaint against the match referee for alleged code violations. The ICC is unlikely to uphold the complaint.

Ricky Ponting, former captain of Australia's cricket team, has firmly denied a viral quote erroneously attributed to him, following the contentious handshake incident in the heated India-Pakistan Asia Cup encounter. The match marked the first face-off between the rivals since a terrorist attack in Pahalgam and has continued to stir diplomatic tensions.

Despite the typical practice of shaking hands after cricket matches, Indian players notably abstained after their dominant 7-wicket win in Dubai, prompting Pakistan to forsake the post-match presentation. Social media misinformation ensued, with a viral photo of Ponting wrongly labeling India as a "perpetual sore loser" gaining traction.

Misattributed remarks, said to be from an interview with Sky Sports, claimed the match immortalized Pakistan as advocates of the gentleman's game. Early on Tuesday, Ponting directly refuted these comments via social media platform X, emphasizing his lack of public commentary on the tournament. The situation has intensified with the Pakistan Cricket Board filing a formal complaint against match referee Andy Pycroft, alleging a breach of sportsmanship codes, although ICC sources suggest that the request will likely be dismissed.

(With inputs from agencies.)