Perth, Australia - Australian cricket team captain Mitchell Marsh has addressed the controversy surrounding a promotional video in which Australian cricketers appeared to mock India's decision to not shake hands with Pakistani players during the Asia Cup 2025. The video, which was released by Kayo Sports ahead of India's white-ball tour of Australia, has since been deleted after sparking widespread backlash on social media.
The promo featured several Australian players, including Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Alyssa Healy, Josh Hazlewood, Jake Fraser-McGurk, Grace Harris, and Sophie Molineux, playfully suggesting alternative greetings to the traditional handshake. These ranged from humorous gestures to more provocative ones, such as a raised middle finger. Marsh himself suggested the "finger in the ice cup," a celebration move popularized by Travis Head.
India's refusal to shake hands with Pakistan during the Asia Cup and the ongoing Women's ODI World Cup 2025 was a mark of protest against the Pahalgam terror attack. Military tensions had also escalated between the two nations following Operation Sindoor conducted by Indian armed forces. India also declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Moshin Naqvi.
The since-deleted video by Kayo Sports, featured hosts Ian Higgins and Sam Perry commenting on what they called India's "critical weakness". "We know that they're not huge fans of the traditional greeting, so we can throw them off before we've even bowled a ball," one of the hosts said.
However, recent reports indicate that the video was filmed at Cricket Australia's content camp on September 2 and 3, before the Asia Cup even started. It's now understood that the clip was made referencing England being unhappy that India would not shake hands and agree to a draw in a Test match in July.
During a pre-match press conference in Perth ahead of the ODI series against India, Marsh claimed to have no memory of the promo and stated he hadn't even watched it. "I actually haven't seen the ad, I don't know if it's blowing up. I don't have much to comment on it," Marsh said.
The incident has stirred debate about on-field etiquette and the spirit of cricket. Some viewed India's refusal to shake hands as a breach of sportsmanship, while others defended it as a justified response to geopolitical tensions. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) maintained that their no-handshake policy was a symbolic gesture and not an act of disrespect.
Despite the controversy, Marsh emphasized his focus on the upcoming series, which marks the return of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma to international cricket after an eight-month hiatus. The ODI series is expected to be highly competitive, with fans eagerly anticipating the clash between the two cricketing powerhouses.
