Will India’s U19 team shake hands with Pakistan players? Here’s what we know ahead of Asia Cup clash
As India and Pakistan prepare to face each other in the Under-19 Asia Cup, an important question has arisen: Will players from both sides participate in the traditional post-match handshake? Here’s what we know so far about the protocol, guidelines and expected behavior ahead of the high-profile conflict.
India will be the team to watch out for as the U-19 Asian Cup gets underway in the UAE. Players like Vaibhav Suryavanshi and captain Ayush Mhatre are sure to attract global attention. However, the spotlight will particularly shine on the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan at the ICC Academy Grounds in Dubai on December 14 (Sunday). The burning question on everyone’s lips is whether Indian and Pakistani players will shake hands before and after the match, or whether they will opt for a boycott similar to the 2025 Asia Cup or the 2025 Women’s World Cup.
A senior BCCI official told PTI that the ICC is keen to keep politics at bay in a match involving two youth teams as the absence of handshake could create negative views. He also stated that although the players were not given any specific instructions, coach Anand Datar was given clear instructions on how to proceed.
He also clarified that if Indian players choose not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, the match referee should be informed in advance.
“Nothing was told to the boys. But it is clear that BCCI has given clear instructions to its manager Anand Datar. Now if the Indian boys do not shake hands with the Pakistan team, the match referee will have to be informed in advance,” said the BCCI official.
“We know for a fact that the ICC does not want politics to be at the forefront when it comes to youth cricket. So this is both a bad look and a matter of public sentiment,” he added.
India will begin their U-19 Asia Cup journey on December 12 against the host nation UAE.
India squad: Ayush Mhatre (C), Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, Vihaan Malhotra (vc), Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (wk), Harvansh Singh (wk), Yuvraj Gohil, Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan A. Patel, Naman Pushpak, D. Deepesh, Henil Patel, Kishan Kumar Singh, Udhav Mohan, Aaron George.
Also read| Under-19 Asian Cup 2025: Full schedule, venues, squads and live coverage – Blockbuster IND v PAK scheduled for THIS date
