India and Bangladesh found themselves in an uncomfortable situation during the pre-match formalities ahead of their ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 clash in Bulawayo.
India Under-19 captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Zawad Abrar shared a cold exchange at the toss on Saturday, January 17, at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
India and Bangladesh captains skip handshake ahead of their ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 clash
Bangladesh’s regular skipper, Md Azizul Hakim Tamim, was not available due to illness, which gave the opportunity to vice-captain Abrar to lead the charge in the crucial ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 match.
When Bangladesh won the toss and decided to bowl first, the scene left many surprised. The two captains stood close to each other, yet there was no handshake, no greeting, and no acknowledgement. Abrar walked past Mhatre without any interaction.
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Both Abrar and Mhatre avoided even looking at one another at the toss, showing the volume of India-Bangladesh tension. The awkwardness continued moments later during the national anthem.
Actually, India U19 and Bangladesh U19 players gathered near the boundary rope and then walked onto the field, but no handshakes were exchanged, and both sides avoided interaction.
From Pakistan to Bangladesh: India maintains same stand
India’s stance was similar to that of Pakistan, which they have been following since last year. In April 2025, several innocents were killed by the Pakistan-based militant groups. The tragic Pahalgam attack led to a brief military war between India and Pakistan last year.
Later, to stand by the victims of the families of the Pahalgam terror attack and protest against terrorism, the Indian cricket team across the age group, both men and women, avoided shaking hands with Pakistani teams and having any interaction. Even Team India didn’t receive the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from PCB and ACB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister.
Now, they are following the same route for Bangladesh in the wake of constant killing and violence against Hindu minorities in the country. The strained moment on the field has come amid the political tension between India and Bangladesh.
India-Bangladesh tensions hit rock bottom
The tension between the two Asian countries is currently at the lowest point, and now its impact is also being seen on the field, and the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 was the first instance. It all started when Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was removed by Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) from their IPL 2026 squad on the BCCI’s orders after protests began in several parts of India.
Several fans and political leaders demanded a ban of the Bangladeshi players in the IPL after repeated reports of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. The public anger kept growing and put pressure on the BCCI. Later, Rahman was ousted from the KKR squad to respect public sentiment and avoid further unrest in India.
After this development, the Bangladesh government banned IPL in the country in their response to India’s move. Additionally, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) asked the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 matches to Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament, entirely, as they do not want to send their team to India due to a serious issue for their players and officials.
