No handshake policy continues for India-Pakistan matches as both teams refrain from it at the Under-19 World Cup 2026

During the 2026 Under-19 World Cup, India and Pakistan persisted in their refusal to shake hands on the cricket pitch. On Sunday, February 1, at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, the bitter rivals squared off in Match 12 of the Super Six stage of the competition.

Ayush Mhatre, the captain of the India U-19 team, and Farhan Yousaf, the captain of Pakistan, finished the toss procedures without shaking hands. Notably, since India's T20I captain, Suryakumar Yadav, declined to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart at the 2025 Asia Cup amid growing political tensions between India and Pakistan, there has been no handshake during the toss for the India-Pakistan cricket matches.

Later that year, in both the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025 and the Under-19 World Cup match between the two teams, the India A squad similarly refrained from shaking hands with the Pakistan Shaheens.

Ayush Mhatre did not shake hands with Zawad Abrar, the substitute captain of Bangladesh, during the toss earlier in the Under-19 World Cup 2026. The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB), however, provided an explanation for the incident after the game, stating that it was accidental rather than purposeful.

The BCB made it clear in an official press release that vice captain Zawad Abrar's refusal to shake hands with Ayush Mhatre was not meant to be disrespectful. The board claimed that because Zawad was covering for regular captain Azizul Hakim, who had become ill just before the game, the gesture had just slipped his mind.

India's perspective on Pakistan has evolved since the terrorist incident in Pahalgam, Kashmir. The two teams can only compete against one another in international competitions, according to the government's decision. However, the team chose not to shake hands with the Pakistani players to demonstrate their solidarity with India and its victims.

In a pivotal Super 6 Group 2 encounter, Pakistan Under-19 chose to bowl first against India after winning the toss. India and Pakistan were competing for a berth in the semi-final, but Pakistan showed too defensive approach, and it felt they did not even try well to win the game, as they lost the spot in the semis due to their slow game.

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