New Delhi: No hands were shaken between players of India and Pakistan prior to the U-19 Asia Cup match in Dubai on Sunday.
Pakistan opted to bowl at the ICC Cricket Academy but India skipper Ayush Mhatre didn’t exchange a handshake with Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf at the toss.
India had refused the gesture with Pakistan players in three matches between themselves at the senior T20 Asia Cup earlier in Dubai to rally alongside the Indian Army and victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.
They followed it during the Women’s ODI World Cup and the Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 tournament in matches against Pakistan.
Taking note of India’s stance, the International Cricket Council urged politics to be kept out of junior-level cricket but left the final decision for the boards of the two countries, saying that should the frozenness continues, the match refer would have to be informed in advance.
It seems the Board of Control for Cricket in India has ignored that request and continued with the no-handshake policy.
“The boys haven’t been told anything. But obviously BCCI has given explicit instructions to its manager Anand Datar. Now if Indian boys don’t shake hands with Pakistan team then match referee will have to be informed in advance,” a BCCI official had told PTI.
“We know for a fact that ICC doesn’t want politics to take front seat when it comes to junior cricket. So it is a case of both bad optics and public sentiment.”
The match was reduced to 49 overs a side due to rain and is the second group match for both teams, having won their opening games with ease.