India’s U-19 team will be gearing up for the upcoming Asia Cup opener on Friday in Dubai and all eyes will be on rising star Vaibhav Suryavanshi as India will be playing against the hosts UAE. Following this match, the much-anticipated clash between India and Pakistan will be held on Sunday at the ICC Academy Ground.
But one of the bigger question that looms is will India and Pakistan shake hands this time? According to a PTI report, the ICC has urged India to maintain the standard protocols of the match at the junior level and not get involved in any kind of political gestures in youth cricket. This has happened all after India and Pakistan did not shake hands in the Asia Cup 2025 as India denied any kind of contact. The Indian women’s team also followed the same during the ODI World Cup which India won.
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“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.
“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 in the know of things told PTI on the condition of anonymity.
Now the decision lies entirely with BCCI and team manager Anand Datar who has been reportedly instructed to follow the board’s decision regarding the hand shake saga.
