A new controversy is building ahead of the India vs Pakistan match at the ACC Men’s Under-19 Asia Cup 2025. The two teams will meet on December 14 in Dubai. India’s U-19 side will be led by captain Ayush Mhatre. Reports say that the International Cricket Council (ICC) has asked both teams to follow the usual post-match handshake and avoid letting political issues affect the game.
This issue comes from the widely discussed ‘handshake saga’ of the Men’s Asia Cup 2025. In that event, India defeated Pakistan three times and went on to win the title. During the tournament, the BCCI instructed Indian players not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. This was meant to be a symbolic protest after the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025.
ICC Steps In Ahead of High-Voltage Clash
Now, before the U-19 Asia Cup, the ICC has stepped in. The global body wants the BCCI to avoid a repeat of that situation and maintain the spirit of cricket.
“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.
The controversy first grew during the Asia Cup group stage when India informed match referee Andy Pycroft about their no-handshake stance. Similar incidents happened during the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 and the ACC Men’s T20 Emerging Asia Cup. This pushed the ICC to finally intervene.
The final call now lies with the BCCI. India U-19 manager Anand Datar and head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar will decide before the match. The U-19 Asia Cup begins on December 12, and the India-Pakistan match is already attracting huge attention.
