India sticks to ‘no handshake’ stance despite ICC request ahead of U19 match against Pakistan
The Indian U19 team continued to follow the no-handshake approach that the senior team adopted after the Pahalgam terror attack during the 2025 Asia Cup. Captain Ayush Mhatre opted not to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Farhan Yousaf during the toss during the match at the ICC Cricket Academy on Sunday, December 14.
India and Pakistan are playing their second Group A match of the U19 Asia Cup. Both teams opened the tournament with huge wins. India crushed the UAE by 234 runs, while Pakistan swept aside Malaysia with an even bigger victory by 297 runs, sparking a much-anticipated clash between the two rivals.
ICC urges India to reconsider no handshake policy ahead of Under-19 clash
Ahead of the big U19 match between India and Pakistan, a PTI report revealed that the International Cricket Council (ICC) wanted India to abandon its no-handshake policy. The ICC felt that youth cricket should stay away from political issues.
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India adopted the no handshake rule during the Senior Asia Cup in Dubai as a show of support to the Indian Army and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. The same approach was followed later in the Women’s ODI World Cup and the Rising Stars Asia Cup whenever India faced Pakistan.
The ICC shares his view but does not force India to change anything. Notably, the final decision rested with the BCCI. The only condition was that the match referee be informed in advance if India chose to continue this policy.
India maintains no handshake policy in U19 Asia Cup draw
India’s no-handshake stance was on display again in the U19 Asia Cup clash in Dubai, where Ayush Mhatre avoided a handshake with Pakistan skipper Farhan Yousuf during the toss.
Once the delayed draw finally took place, both captains went straight to their broadcasting duties rather than greeting each other in the usual manner. After Yousuf chose to bowl, the two captains kept their distance, exchanged only brief words with the presenter, then left without making eye contact.
This is the sixth India-Pakistan clash in ICC and ACC events since September, and in each of these matches, the Indian captain has maintained the no handshake policy.
Toss decision, XI play and captain’s reasoning
“We will bowl first. There is moisture on the field and we want to take advantage of the opportunity. It is a normal game for me, so there is no pressure. I have faith in my bowlers. We want to restrict India to 200 runs,” Farhan Yousaf said.
“We would have bowled first because of the humidity. We will have to stick to our plans and bat well. We are confident, having won the match comfortably. It is a normal match for us as we have played enough cricket,” Ayush Mhatre said.
India U19: Ayush Mhatre (c), Vaibhav Suryavanshi, Aaron George, Vihaan Malhotra, Vedant Trivedi, Abhigyan Kundu (w), Kanishk Chouhan, Khilan Patel, Deepesh Devendran, Kishan Kumar Singh, Henil Patel.
Pakistan U19: Usman Khan, Sameer Minhas, Ali Hassan Baloch, Ahmed Hussain, Farhan Yousaf (c), Hamza Zahoor (w), Huzaifa Ahsan, Niqab Shafiq, Abdul Subhan, Mohammad Sayyam, Ali Raza
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