U-19 World Cup: India, Bangladesh Captains Avoid Handshake at Toss
In a revealing moment at the ICC Under-19 World Cup, India captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh vice-captain Zawad Abrar did not engage in the traditional handshake during the toss. This incident took place at the Queens Sports Club ahead of their Group A match, highlighting the growing tensions between the neighboring nations.
Details of the Toss Incident
The toss was postponed for over 15 minutes, owing to light drizzle. When the captains finally appeared, the customary exchange of greetings was absent. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. Following the toss, both teams fulfilled their broadcasting commitments and returned to the dressing rooms without any interaction.
Context of the Handshake Avoidance
This event mirrors a similar stance taken by the Indian men’s cricket team during the Men’s Asia Cup in September 2025. In that tournament, Indian players refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts. They also declined to accept a trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, president of the Asian Cricket Council and Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
- The no-handshake policy continued under India captain Harmanpreet Kaur in an ICC Women’s ODI World Cup match.
- It was also applied during a group-stage fixture against Pakistan in the Under-19 Asia Cup last month.
Worsening Relations Between India and Bangladesh
Recent months have seen a decline in relations between India and Bangladesh, exacerbated by civil unrest in Bangladesh, including the assassination of a student leader and the lynching of a Hindu individual. Tensions have also affected cricket administration. The IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders released Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman after directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
In response to these developments, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) initially withheld the no-objection certificate necessary for Mustafizur to participate in the IPL. The BCB has since requested the International Cricket Council (ICC) to relocate Bangladesh’s T20 World Cup matches to Sri Lanka, citing ongoing security concerns related to the rising tensions.
