India Defies ICC, Continues ‘No Handshake’ Policy Against Pakistan in U-19 Asia Cup
Despite a direct request from teh International Cricket Council (ICC) to foster sportsmanship, the Indian team maintained it’s ‘no handshake’ policy with Pakistan during the toss of their U-19 Asia Cup cricket match on Thursday, december 14, 2025. The stance extends a policy previously enacted during senior team encounters, including the Asia Cup, Women’s ODI World Cup, and rising Stars Asia Cup T20 tournaments.
The decision underscores a complex interplay between sporting regulations and prevailing geopolitical sentiment. According to reports, the ICC had urged the Indian team management to separate politics from the youth tournament and embrace the traditional gesture of a pre-match handshake. The ICC also reportedly instructed teams to inform the match referee in advance if they did not intend to shake hands.
“Nothing special has been saeid to the stars,” a senior official stated.”But the BCCI has given clear instructions to team manager Anand Duttar. It has been suggested that the match referee should be informed if the Pakistani players do not shake hands. It is true that the ICC does not want to bring politics into junior cricket. But public sentiment should also be taken into account.”
During the toss, Indian captain Ayush Matre declined to shake hands with Pakistan captain Farhan Yousuf. Pakistan won the toss and elected to bat, but India quickly struck, losing in-form opener Vaibhav Suryavansi in the fourth over. Suryavansi, who managed 5 runs off 5 balls, was dismissed by pacer Mohammad Sayyam on a return catch.
The dismissal was preceded by a contentious appeal from the Pakistani team on Suryavansi’s very first ball. The batsman attempted a drive off Ali Raza, but the ball was caught by the keeper. Despite the umpire initially ruling not out, the Pakistani players persistently appealed, ultimately prompting a warning from the umpire.
Play was briefly halted when Indian batsman Aaron george, a Malayalee player, was struck on the head by a delivery from Ali Raza. The ball impacted George’s helmet, causing significant pain.The medical team promptly attended to the player, who was fortunately cleared to continue batting after assessment.
The ongoing ‘no handshake’ policy highlights the delicate balance between upholding sporting traditions and acknowledging broader political considerations. While the ICC seeks to maintain the integrity of the game,the BCCI appears to be prioritizing public opinion and national sentiment.
.
The incident involving Suryavansi’s dismissal and the subsequent appeals underscore the competitive intensity of the India-Pakistan rivalry, even at the U-19 level. The match continues to be closely watched,not only for its sporting merit but also for its symbolic weight.
Here’s a substantive news report answering the “Why, Who, What, and How” questions:
What: The Indian U-19 cricket team continued its ‘no handshake’ policy with Pakistan before their Asia Cup match on December 14, 2025, defying a request from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to promote sportsmanship.
Who: The decision was made by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI
