Hollywood actor Kumail Nanjiani has criticised the Indian cricket team’s decision not to shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup earlier this year, calling it a troubling sign of how politics and conflict are increasingly shaping sporting and cultural spaces.
The issue resurfaced months after the tournament when Nanjiani, who grew up in Pakistan, discussed the moment during a conversation with comedian Hasan Minhaj on his YouTube channel. Reflecting on the incident, Nanjiani said sport has historically been one of the few platforms where political tensions could be set aside.
“India refused to shake hands with the Pakistan team, and I find that to be such a shame because sport is the one time when we can actually put everything aside and play,” Nanjiani said, describing the moment as a missed opportunity for people-to-people connection.
The handshake snub occurred in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack, in which 26 civilians were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists. The attack triggered nationwide outrage in India and heightened scrutiny of sporting and cultural engagements involving Pakistan, with India’s action during the Asia Cup widely viewed domestically as a symbolic stand.
Nanjiani contrasted the present atmosphere with what he described as an earlier era of India–Pakistan cricket, when rivalry coexisted with mutual respect. He said matches once highlighted shared culture, language and identity rather than political hostility.
“What was special about India–Pakistan matches was that our countries didn’t get along, but the people did. We are the same people, the same culture, the same language. When we played cricket, you felt the similarities more than the differences,” he said, adding that players from both sides often shared friendships off the field.
He also pointed to a broader cultural shift, arguing that older storytelling in cinema celebrated unity, while contemporary narratives in both Indian and Pakistani entertainment increasingly lean toward nationalism and antagonism. Nanjiani cited classic Bollywood films such as Amar Akbar Anthony as examples of a more inclusive cultural outlook.
Speaking personally, the actor recalled moments of anxiety earlier this year when rising tensions between India and Pakistan left him worried about the safety of his family in Karachi. He described the experience as emotionally draining for those with personal ties to both countries.
Nanjiani, known for his work in Silicon Valley, The Big Sick and Marvel’s Eternals, acknowledged India’s growing global influence while noting Pakistan’s ongoing challenges, calling the imbalance emotionally complex for people caught between both identities.
The comments have reignited debate over whether sport should remain insulated from geopolitics or inevitably reflect wider national tensions, especially in the context of terrorism and security concerns.
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