India vs Bangladesh sees no handshakes at the toss in the U19 World Cup, but it was deemed as unintentional.
At the group match toss of the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Bulawayo on Saturday, the representatives of the Under-19 teams from Bangladesh and India did not shake hands. However, the teams shook hands at the conclusion of the match, which India won by 18 runs (DLS method).
The lack of a handshake during the toss was “completely unintentional and resulted from a momentary lapse in concentration” on their side, according to the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). The BCCI remained silent.
Ayush Mhatre, the captain of India, represented them at the toss, while Zawad Abrar, the vice captain of Bangladesh, filled in for captain Azizul Hakim, who played despite being ill.
“Due to illness, regular captain Azizul Hakim was unable to attend the toss, and vice-captain Zawad Abrar represented the team on the occasion,” the BCB said in a statement. “The BCB wishes to clarify that the absence of a handshake with the opposition captain was completely unintentional and resulted from a momentary lapse in concentration. There was no intent whatsoever to show discourtesy or disregard towards the opposition.
“The Board has viewed the matter with due seriousness, as upholding the spirit of cricket and respect for opponents is a fundamental prerequisite for representing Bangladesh at any level and immediately advised the team management accordingly. The players have also been reminded of their responsibility to maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship, camaraderie and mutual respect in all interactions with opposing teams. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains fully committed to the values of cricket, both on and off the field.”
Due to the tense political ties between India and Pakistan, the omission of handshakes has become a common occurrence in matches between the two nations at major tournaments this year. At the men’s Asia Cup, women’s ODI World Cup, Rising Stars Asia Cup, and Under-19 Asia Cup, the players from India and Pakistan did not shake hands.
The BCCI ordered the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders to remove Bangladeshi fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from its roster for the 2026 season, further deteriorating relations between India and Bangladesh. In response, the BCB and the ICC are still at odds over the BCB’s refusal to send the Bangladeshi squad to India for their 2026 T20 World Cup matches.