Dubai, UAE – In a decision that has sparked debate, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has turned down a request from the International Cricket Council (ICC) to encourage handshakes between the India U-19 team and their Pakistani counterparts during their Asia Cup match. The match, held at the ICC Cricket Academy in Dubai on Sunday, saw the Indian U-19 team maintain a "no-handshake" policy against Pakistan, a stance that has been in place since September during the senior Asia Cup.

The ICC's request was motivated by a desire to keep politics out of junior-level cricket and maintain the spirit of sportsmanship. However, the BCCI chose to continue the policy, which was initially implemented as a mark of solidarity with the Indian Army and the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. This policy was also followed during the Women's ODI World Cup and the Rising Stars Asia Cup T20 tournament in matches against Pakistan.

Prior to the high-profile U-19 Asia Cup clash, the ICC acknowledged India's stance but ultimately left the final decision to the BCCI. The ICC stipulated that if the no-handshake policy were to continue, the match referee must be informed in advance.

The no-handshake was evident at the toss, where India U-19 captain Ayush Mhatre did not shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, Farhan Yousuf. After Yousuf chose to bowl first, Mhatre stood behind him without offering a handshake. The two captains had a brief interaction with the presenter, after which Yousuf handed over the microphone to Mhatre without making eye contact and walked back to the dugout.

A BCCI official, speaking to PTI, said that the boys had not been explicitly told anything, but the BCCI had given instructions to its manager, Anand Datar. The official added that the ICC did not want politics to take center stage in junior cricket, but the decision was influenced by "bad optics and public sentiment".

Both India and Pakistan entered the match with victories in their opening Group A fixtures. India had defeated the United Arab Emirates by 234 runs, while Pakistan had secured a 297-run win over Malaysia. The match in Dubai was briefly delayed due to rain, resulting in a reduced game of 49 overs per side.

The BCCI's decision highlights the complex intersection of sports and politics, particularly in high-profile matches between India and Pakistan. While the ICC aims to promote sportsmanship and keep politics out of junior cricket, the BCCI's stance reflects the prevailing sentiment and solidarity with national causes. This decision is likely to continue the debate surrounding the role of politics in sports and the balance between upholding sporting ideals and reflecting national sentiment.