Bulawayo (Zimbabwe), Feb 1 (.) India and Pakistan captains once again skipped the customary handshake at the toss during their Super Six Group 2 clash at the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.
India skipper Ayush Mhatre and Pakistan captain Farhan Yousaf completed the toss proceedings without exchanging the traditional greeting before the start of the high-profile clash.
The absence of a handshake has become a recurring feature in recent cricketing contests between the two nations, reflecting the strained diplomatic relations that have often spilled over into sporting engagements. Similar scenes have been witnessed in previous ICC events, where players from both sides have avoided physical interaction before or after matches.
The trend was first observed at the senior level when India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart during the 2025 Asia Cup, a move that drew widespread attention amid heightened political tensions between the two neighbouring nations.
Similar scenes followed at the developmental level during the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, where India A players avoided the customary handshake with Pakistan Shaheens.
Despite the off-field optics, the match proceeded as scheduled under ICC regulations, with both teams focusing on securing a place in the latter stages of the tournament.
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