In the high-stakes arena of international cricket, the rivalry between India and Pakistan often transcends the boundary ropes. However, last year’s Asia Cup saw certain episodes unfold that are still fresh in the minds of fans. While Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav and his squad maintained a principled stance in line with national sentiment following the Pahalgam attacks, Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha has now provided a detailed account of how the “handshake row” unfolded from his perspective. The atmosphere surrounding the fixture was charged long before the players took the field. While the Indian camp, backed by the BCCI, had made it clear that “business as usual” was not an option, Agha described how the information regarding the lack of a handshake between the two captains was passed on to him right before the toss took place.

“I went for the toss. Before that, there was a press conference. There was a shake-hand, trophy shoot, there was a handshake,” Agha recalled in a video shared on social media. “When I was going for the toss, I was pretty normal. Obviously, I had an idea that it wouldn’t be that normal, but I didn’t know there would be no handshake. I didn’t have that idea.”

“I went for the toss with our media manager, Naeem Bhai,” Agha explained. “The match referee, I don’t remember his name, he took me aside and said, ‘We’re going to do it like this. There won’t be a handshake.’ So, please look at that. I said, ‘It’s fine if there’s not going to be a handshake. I am not too keen either.’ So, this is what happened. He told me beforehand that there won’t be a handshake.”

Salman Ali Agha relieved about India vs Pakistan handshake controversy:

Before the match, there was a press conference and a trophy shoot, and there was a handshake there too. So when I was going for the toss, I was pretty normal. I said, “Obviously, I had an idea that things… pic.twitter.com/zImpcx7pG1

— TEJASH (@Tejashyyyyy) May 2, 2026

The match ended in a comfortable victory for the Indian side. While the pre-match ‘no-handshake’ rule was understood by Agha, he believed a post-match handshake would still occur between the two teams. He revealed that he took the entire Pakistani team to the Indian dressing room, only to find the door shut.

Agha recalled the final moments of the encounter: “After that, the match ended. We lost the match. We were going to their pavilion (dressing room) for the handshake. They still didn’t do the handshake.”

The debate sparked by the incident often pits “sportsman spirit” against “national duty.” For Suryakumar Yadav, the priority was clear: honouring the sacrifice of the armed forces. However, Agha expressed concern over the message this sends to the grassroots level of the sport.

“And I’ve said it many times, I don’t think this is right,” Agha stressed. “Because if we’re representing a nation, and I play for Pakistan, people look at me, and the kids will pick up on that. And if this happens in a club game the next day, it will be because of me at the end of the day. Because I’m also a part of it. So, when you’re a role model, then I don’t think it’s a good thing to do.”

There has been no handshake between the members of the two teams since this episode. Pakistan and India also met in the final of the Asia Cup 2025 but no friendly gestures were exchanged.

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Palestinian Football Association President Jibril Rajoub refused to shake hands or even stand beside Israel Football Association Vice President Basim Sheikh Suliman during a tense exchange at the FIFA Congress Thursday.

Both officials were invited to the stage by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, but the Palestinian representative resisted efforts to bring him closer to his Israeli counterpart.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino shakes hands with Basim Sheikh Suliman (left), vice president of the Israeli Football Association, as Jibril Rajoub (right), president of the Palestine Football Association, leaves the stage at the 76th FIFA Congress in Vancouver, Canada, April 30, 2026. (Reuters/Jennifer Gauthier)

Infantino briefly placed a hand on Rajoub’s arm and gestured for him to step forward, but Rajoub did not comply.

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FIFA President Gianni Infantino speaks during the 2026 Semafor World Economy conference in Washington, D.C., on April 15, 2026. (Kent Nishimura/AFP)

The Palestinian FA, led by Rajoub, has long pushed for Israel to be suspended from international soccer competition.

Rajoub defended his decision, saying he remains committed to formal processes but believes stronger action is needed.

“I still respect and follow the legal procedure, but I think it’s time to understand that Israel should be sanctioned. The double-standard policy should stop,” Rajoub said, according to The Times of Israel.

“I refused to shake hands. Sport is sport. … For me, that should be respected, but if the other side is representing a criminal like Bibi [Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu] and speaking on behalf of Bibi as if Bibi is Mother Teresa, how can I shake hands or have a photo with such a man?

HS BASKETBALL COACH SUSPENDED AFTER HANGING UP PALESTINIAN FLAG, REFUSING TO SHAKE HANDS WITH JEWISH COACHES

A fan displays a Palestinian flag during a Nations League group stage match between France and Israel Nov. 14, 2024. (Gonzalo Fuentes/Reuters)

“I think Gianni has the right to try to bridge gaps and bring people together, but I think maybe he does not understand or does not know the deep suffering of the Palestinian people.”

After the exchange, Infantino addressed the room, urging cooperation.

“We will work together, President Rajoub, Vice President Suliman. Let’s work together to give hope to the children. These are complex matters,” Infantino said.

Speaking just before the incident, Suliman emphasized the unifying role of the sport.

“In football, there is no place for politics,” Suliman said. “Everyone has the right to play and compete. We are teaching children values like respect, equality and love for others, and we hope that by the next time we meet, the situation will be better. We extend a hand to the Palestinian FA in the spirit of those shared values.”

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Players from Paris Saint-Germain and Tottenham Hotspur line up before the UEFA Super Cup soccer match in Udine, Italy, on Aug. 13, 2025. (Denes Erdos/AP)

UEFA was reportedly moving toward a vote to suspend Israel over the war in Gaza in September, but the motion was put on pause. 

Infantino announced no action would be taken against the team on Oct. 3 after a historic peace proposal by President Donald Trump and Netanyahu.

However, even after the peace proposal, Israeli sports teams have faced opposition and exclusion.

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As soon as the 2025 season ended, we all shifted to the draft and impatiently awaited its arrival. Most of us thought the Vikings draft would be a cavalcade of players destined to fill roster holes with the best player available or one that all the experts said would be there for the taking.

Everyone felt that this draft would be different from the last four, with head coach Kevin O’Connell having most of the say, and defensive coordinator Brian Flores and interim general manager Rob Brzezinski supporting and helping to make a plan. Most fans went in with a positive outlook on this go-round, trying to buffer against the terrible season that 2025 doled out.

Minnesota’s Draft Plan Looks Clearer after the First Reaction

The 2026 Draft wasn’t seen as a strong year for top prospects. Reports indicated that several teams had only around 12 to 20 1st-round-caliber picks. That’s never a good way to start things.

Not getting to pick until number 18 cast a shadow over the Vikings’ fans’ hopes. As the draft approached, things were looking up, as all the pundits said the team would select a perfect replacement for a Hall of Fame player.

Other than the Raiders’ first pick of Fernando Mendoza being a lock, the only other one by all professional and amateur mock draft nerds was Dillon Thieneman, a safety, who would be the pick at 18. Harrison Smith could retire or, hopefully, stick around one more year as a mentor, and the team wouldn’t miss a beat other than a few growing pains. Safe, secure, stable pick to make most folks happy. All that changed in moments on April 23rd, 2026.

Another player all the aforementioned draftniks talked about was one to be avoided due to injuries that limited him to three games last season.

Sure, he seemed like an absolute beast based on tape from two seasons ago, before he got hurt, and he dominated at the Senior Bowl. Again, the injury bug bit at the NFL Combine, and he broke his foot. I myself wrote a “naughty list” of players to avoid, where I didn’t even mention him because it seemed so obvious that he was going to tumble down the boards.

The Vikings didn’t trade down at 18. They didn’t hesitate. They didn’t take the safety. When commissioner Goodell stepped to the mic, he called out, “Caleb Banks”, and everyone went, “What?!” Even my wife had a few colorful metaphors at the announcement, knowing of his injury history. This was the last guy I wanted them to take.

It was a gut punch. Not because I was wrong on my guess, which everyone else also had. Who cares? It’s all a guess. It was more than that; if it weren’t going to be Thieneman, it would be another safety, maybe a cornerback, a wide receiver, or even a different defensive tackle. I just didn’t want it to be him.

I stewed on it after the pick and 1st Round ended that night. Eventually, my thoughts turned to the next two days of the Draft, where I figured they would make up for it with some impact players at spots that needed shoring up.

The defensive line needed more impact before they took Banks, and there was no reason they still couldn’t take another lineman there, shore up the middle linebacker position, or add to the wide receiver core with the upcoming picks. However, pick after pick left me scratching my head, with players and positions in greater need of attention being passed up.

For the most part, I had no problem with the picks the coaching staff made because they weren’t bad players. Jake Golday and Domonique Orange were players I had seen on the prospects list, and I only thought that Orange would be available and be picked by the team.

I figured another linebacker-hungry team would take Golday before we even had a chance at him. Offensive tackle Caleb Tiernan was nowhere on my radar, with tackle being a position I felt the team had addressed in Free Agency and already has Brian O’Neill and Christian Darrisaw on the roster. Jakobe Thomas was a safety I saw from time to time in my mocks, while Max Bredeson was a player I only knew because he was the sole fullback listed on NFL.com as a draft prospect.

CB Charles Demmings was a complete unknown, and running back Demond Claibourne and center Gavin Gerhardt were players I only saw in flashes while studying. I admit I wasn’t overly impressed by the end of the weekend. It didn’t help that coverage was negative about the Vikings’ picks, and neither the NFL Network nor ESPN even mentioned the Purple’s picks.

In their recap montage of the first round, which played almost at the top of every hour after the first round, the NFL Network skipped replaying pick 18. An ultimate slap in the face.

Was The Vikings Draft That Bad?

At first glance, I thought this draft was questionable at best. I loved the Orange pick! “Big Citrus” is such a big man, sturdy in the run game, and his teaming up with Minnesota’s veteran line was a recipe for a top rush defense.

The Golday pick was a little confusing at first, but he has played every linebacker spot invented, which shows his versatility. Once Johnathan Greenard was traded, it made even more sense for his pass-rushing ability. The Tiernan pick puzzled me the most because there was no mention of needing to replace the current tackles, regardless of their ages or injury histories.

They brought in Ryan Van Demark from Buffalo as a swing tackle, and Walter Rouse has been serviceable in spot duty, with the centers still on the board – a position that was supposed to be a target; it just didn’t make sense.

Taking Thomas at this point was expected, as the safety position needed to be addressed. He’s attached to the Greenard pick now and will need to have a strong career to show the trade wasn’t a bust. Bredeson was again a surprise until the NFL broadcast showed he is a hybrid back who could improve run and pass blocking, and he was picked about where most expected.

I was hoping for Emmett Johnson at this point, but the Chiefs took him a few spots later. Demmings was again a surprise, being from a smaller school. He’s also tied to the Greenard trade and possibly had the best team interview after they picked him. Claiborne may be a sneaky pick that pushes as a “steal of the draft” type player. Gerhardt fills the need at the backup center, but he’s in the realm of being a training camp cut or practice squad player.

The sad thing is that the two stations covering the draft seemed to be ignoring the Vikings altogether. Their picks were glossed over, if barely mentioned, other than when they were announced. I literally had to wait until KFAN personalities started talking about the picks on social media or on the radio.

They were similarly not very impressed. Banks had everyone polarized with the injury issues, but the thought is that if he’s healthy, he could be dominant. Brzezinski made a great point: the injuries helped him get down to them. Reports started trickling in that the Bears were going to take Banks at 25, and the Chiefs and Texans were trying to trade up with the Vikings to take him.

So, maybe teams were more interested than the expert mock drafters knew, and he got drafted right where he was supposed to be. If healthy, Banks, Orange, Levi Drake Rodriguez, Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, and Jalen Redmond could be quite the mix up front. Similar to adding Golday to the mix with Andrew Van Ginkel and the suddenly elevated Dallas Turner.

Thomas is on the edge of being a starter if he shines in training camp. The rest are depth. Tiernan was considered the top tackle at the 2nd tier of prospects and could be the future at right tackle when O’Neill rides into the sunset.

It Was The Plan All Along

A concern as the draft went on was that it seemed overly defensive. Once we finally got better breakdowns of why these players were selected, things began to clear up. This was the front office’s plan all along: stick to your board and take the best player available.

They said before the draft that they were going to take players who performed well in college and not worry so much about the analytics involved. Not only that, but these players fit the team’s schemes on both sides of the ball. They did exactly as they should have with this draft, considering it was top-heavy. There’s no guarantee that this draft course corrected everything the team messed up on in previous ones.

We won’t know its realistic success until two to three years down the road. After a week with better information, I feel much better about a draft I rated a C- and can move up to a B-. Maybe not immediate help at key positions, and they’re taking risks on a player with injury history, but solid to shore up where needed, and they didn’t reach for players in a panic.

Banks may be a homerun if he plays up to expectations, and the team will be lauded for taking the big swing instead of the safe pick. I would have given the 2022 draft an A, but it has become an F. Those who gave this draft a low grade in anger might have to adjust the curve in a few years, if we’re lucky.

I’m a small-town boy with12 years in telecommunications and 13 years in radio but a lifetime as a Vikings … More about Tony Schultz

The NFL draft is complete, but the Minnesota Vikings rumor mill is not over. It never stops, in fact. Consider this the first batch of post-draft rumors, highlighted by the search for a new general manager or the promotion of the existing one.

The draft is over, but Minnesota’s offseason rumor mill still has three names worth tracking.

The next stop in the offseason is the schedule release, which will occur within the next two weeks.

Minnesota’s Front Office and Roster Questions Stay Active After the Draft

The Purple Rumor Mill is here for May 2nd, 2026.

Rumor: Rob Brzezinski is the frontrunner to keep the general manager title. He wants it.

Fans thought that Brzezinski would probably be interested in the full-time gig after serving as the interim option for the last three months. ESPN’s Kevin Seifert confirmed that this week.

He wrote, “Minnesota Vikings interim general manager Rob Brzezinski has expressed interest in the permanent job as the team begins its search process this week, sources told ESPN on Wednesday. Brzezinski, the team’s longtime contract negotiator and salary cap manager, has been running the Vikings’ front office since Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was fired Jan. 30.”

“Owners Zygi and Mark Wilf asked all team employees to focus on free agency and the draft in the immediate aftermath. Brzezinski, who has turned down interest for prominent roles from other teams during his 27 years with the Vikings, had not indicated whether he wanted to pursue the job. Regardless of Brzezinski’s interest, Mark Wilf said last month that the Vikings would use a third party to help cull a list of candidates to run a thorough and open-ended search.”

Brzezinski has made no major blunders since Adofo-Mensah exited stage left. He’s the current frontrunner for his own job.

Rumor: Former Vikings center Garrett Bradbury could already lose his job in Chicago.

The Bears spent a 2nd-Rounder last week on 25-year-old Iowa center Jones. Second-round centers see action sooner rather than later.

SI.com’s Jerry Markarian scribed Sunday, “Virtually everyone expected the Chicago Bears to be in the market for a developmental center in the 2026 NFL Draft. Veteran trade acquisition Garrett Bradbury, whom they shipped a fifth-round pick for shortly after Drew Dalman’s abrupt retirement, only has one year remaining on his contract, after all. With that said, very few expected them to prioritize the position in the second round.”

“They felt the value of Iowa center Logan Jones, who was widely considered the best center in this year’s class, was too good to pass up at pick 57. They completely changed the shape of the center room in the process. Unlike some of the other options that would’ve come into play later in the draft, he has a legitimate shot to start from day one.”

Bradbury is on borrowed time — and he hasn’t played a single snap in Chicago. The Bears acquired him via trade with the New England Patriots for a 5th-Rounder.

There’s also a scenario in which Bradbury lands back with the Vikings if Jones wins the job this summer, though the Bears and Vikings rarely do trade business together.

Rumor: Dillon Bell is the next big UDFA for the Vikings.

The Vikings added 19 undrafted free agents after the draft, and due to the fact that fans just love wide receivers, Bell earned UDFA headlines.

The Athletic’s Alec Lewis wrote, “You can see what the Vikings were going for here. Bell is a big-bodied offensive weapon who doesn’t just look like a running back. The 6-foot, 210-pounder averaged 7.3 yards per carry as a runner at Georgia.”

“The route running is the primary hurdle, but that’s precisely why the Vikings would make this type of bet. How Minnesota uses the spring and summer to find the right role for him will be telling. His frame and traits are enticing.”

Bell feels like he could be a Deebo Samuel-lite weapon for Kevin O’Connell.

His coach at Georgia, Kirby Smart, on Bell: “He’s a positionless player. He can play tight end. He can play Wildcat quarterback. He can play tailback. He’s certainly a good receiver. He’s a great returner. That’s what people are moving to in the NFL, guys that can go out there and create matchups.”

“He does that. He can be in the backfield and create some problems for the defense. But more important than that, he’s a great person. He led by example here. He never complained once about snaps and touches and that says a lot about what he brought into the team.”

Perhaps Bell is the UDFA fans will track with enthusiasm this summer.

Hardik Pandya, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah (Image credit: Agencies)

NEW DELHI: Eight matches, two wins, six defeats, four points, and a worrying net run rate of -0.784 – that sums up the plight of five-time champions Mumbai Indians in IPL 2026. Nothing seems to be going their way.It’s a continuation of last season’s struggles. In IPL 2025, Mumbai Indians finished at the bottom of the table, managing just four wins in 14 matches while losing 10. Unfortunately for them, the story hasn’t changed much this year.The star-studded side began their IPL 2026 campaign on a positive note, defeating Kolkata Knight Riders by six wickets in their opener. However, things quickly went off track. They slipped into a losing streak, suffering four consecutive defeats against Delhi Capitals, Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bengaluru, and Punjab Kings.Under mounting pressure, Mumbai bounced back in their sixth match with a dominant 99-run victory over Gujarat Titans. It looked like a turning point – but the revival was short-lived.

They followed it up with two more defeats. First, a heavy 103-run loss to Chennai Super Kings, and then a heartbreaking defeat to Sunrisers Hyderabad despite posting a massive 243/5.For a team with five IPL titles, the ongoing slump raises serious questions.

What’s going wrong for Mumbai Indians this season?

Bumrah’s struggles add to MI woesJasprit Bumrah is going through a rare slump in IPL 2026. Renowned for his deadly yorkers and ability to send stumps cartwheeling, the pace spearhead has struggled to make an impact this season.Bumrah went wicketless in his first five matches and picked up his first scalp only in the sixth game against Gujarat Titans, dismissing Sai Sudharsan off the very first ball he bowled in that match.

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It’s not just the lack of wickets – he has also been expensive. Young batters have taken him on, including rising sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who struck two sixes in a single over.Bumrah also failed to step up in Mumbai Indians’ high-scoring clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad. Despite Mumbai Indians posting a daunting 243/5, he couldn’t apply the expected pressure. The fast bowler conceded 54 runs in his four overs at an economy rate of 13.50 and was hit for five sixes.Among those who attacked him were Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head, Heinrich Klaasen, and youngster Sali Arora. Arora even produced a stunning no-look shot to send the ball over Bumrah’s head.For a bowler who has often single-handedly won matches for Mumbai Indians, this dip in form has been significant and has contributed to the team’s struggles this season.Surya’s lean patch continuesSuryakumar Yadav entered IPL 2026 with high expectations after leading India to T20 World Cup title win. However, his recent form has been underwhelming.In the T20 World Cup, Surya failed to make a consistent impact with the bat. Barring an impressive 84-run knock against the USA, he struggled against most oppositions, finishing with 157 runs in seven matches. Heading into the IPL, there were expectations that he would return to his aggressive, free-flowing best in the shortest format.But that hasn’t happened so far.

The 35-year-old is enduring one of his toughest IPL seasons in recent years, comparable to 2021 when he scored 317 runs at an average of 22.64. At a time when Mumbai Indians needed an experienced batter to step up and lead from the front, Surya has been unable to deliver.In situations where the team needed someone to take responsibility and anchor the innings, he has struggled for runs and failed to convert starts into meaningful contributions.So far, he has managed just 162 runs in eight matches at an average of 20.25 – a reflection of both his dip in form and Mumbai Indians’ one of the struggles this season.No Rohit, no stability for MIThe absence of Rohit Sharma has been a major setback for Mumbai Indians this season. The star opener has missed the last four matches due to a hamstring injury and has featured in only four games so far.Rohit, who led Mumbai Indians to five IPL titles, began his IPL 2026 campaign on a strong note with a fluent 78 against Kolkata Knight Riders in a winning cause. He followed it up with scores of 35 against Delhi Capitals, 5 versus Rajasthan Royals, and an unbeaten 19 against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. However, he struggled with his hamstring during the RCB game and had to retire hurt.

His absence has disrupted Mumbai’s starts at the top. The aggressive approach and stability he provides in the powerplay have been sorely missed.In his absence, the team has tried multiple opening combinations. Ryan Rickelton and Quinton de Kock managed just 12 runs for the first wicket. Against Gujarat Titans, Danish Malewar was paired with de Kock, but the duo added only 10 runs. The same combination failed again against Chennai Super Kings, putting on just 7 runs for the opening stand.Beyond his role as an opener, Rohit’s absence has also been felt in leadership on the field. His experience in guiding captain Hardik Pandya – from field placements to tactical inputs – has been missing, further contributing to Mumbai Indians’ struggles this season. Middle order meltdown When openers falter, teams rely on the middle order to rebuild and provide stability with a mix of intent and resilience. For Mumbai Indians, that box has remained unchecked this season.In the match against Delhi Capitals, where Suryakumar Yadav led in the absence of Hardik Pandya, the middle order collapse proved costly. Tilak Varma (0), Sherfane Rutherford (5), and Naman Dhir (28) failed to contribute, derailing the chase.The rain-curtailed 11-over contest against Rajasthan Royals was another missed opportunity. After RR posted 150/3, Mumbai Indians were well in the hunt, but a poor middle-order showing resulted in a 27-run defeat.

A similar story unfolded against Royal Challengers Bengaluru. Chasing a massive 240, Tilak Varma and Naman Dhir managed just one run each. Despite putting up 222 on the board, a slightly better contribution from the middle order could have taken MI over the line, but they fell short by 18 runs.Against Punjab Kings, the middle order again failed to capitalise on a solid start. Suryakumar Yadav (0), Hardik Pandya (14), Rutherford (1), and Tilak (8) couldn’t push the innings forward. From a position where 230-plus looked likely, MI ended at 195/6, and Punjab Kings chased it down comfortably in 16.3 overs.The collapse was most evident in the heavy defeat to Chennai Super Kings. Chasing 207/6, MI’s top order faltered early with Quinton de Kock (7), Danish Malewar (0), and Dhir (0) falling cheaply. Suryakumar (36) and Tilak (37) attempted a recovery, but once they departed, the rest of the middle order – Pandya (1), Rutherford (0), and Shardul Thakur (6) – folded quickly, resulting in a humiliating 103-run loss.