India and Pakistan continue to dominate cricket headlines, and a new dispute may soon emerge.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly requested that players from both countries put aside political differences and engage in the customary post-match handshake during their future match at the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2025. The two teams will play on December 14 in Dubai, with the India U-19 squad led by skipper Ayush Mhatre.
The so-called ‘handshake saga’ became one of the most talked-about storylines at the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, overshadowing the on-field performances. Throughout the competition, India defeated Pakistan three times on their way to winning the trophy, and the BCCI had told its players not to shake hands with Pakistani team members. The instruction was a symbolic protest against the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025.
However, the International Cricket Council has intervened before of the U-19 Asia Cup. The global cricket body has advised the BCCI to abandon any such plans and ensure that players follow standard protocol in order to protect the spirit of the game.
“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 the Pakistan team then the match referee will have to be informed in advance. 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,” a BCCI official said.
This controversy first gained traction when India informed match referee Andy Pycroft during the Asia Cup group stage that they would not be engaging in handshakes with the Pakistani players. The same stance resurfaced during the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 and the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Asia Cup, prompting the ICC to step in and put an end to the recurring drama.
For now, the final decision rests with the BCCI. India U-19 manager Anand Datar and head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar have been tasked with taking a call ahead of the match. Meanwhile, the Under-19 Asia Cup is set to begin on December 12, with the India-Pakistan fixture already generating significant attention.
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