U-19 World Cup: India's Ayush Mhatre refuses handshake with Bangladesh captain

India and Bangladesh were at the centre of an unusual moment before their ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 encounter in Bulawayo, as visible tension marked the pre-match formalities.

At the toss on Saturday, at the Queens Sports Club, India U-19 skipper Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Zawad Abrar shared a noticeably frosty exchange. Bangladesh’s regular captain, Md Azizul Hakim Tamim, was ruled out due to illness, handing leadership duties to vice-captain Abrar for the crucial group-stage clash.

After Bangladesh won the toss and chose to field, the absence of basic courtesies caught the attention of spectators and viewers alike. The two captains stood beside each other but did not shake hands or exchange greetings. Abrar walked away without acknowledging Mhatre, and both players avoided eye contact, underlining the strained atmosphere between the two sides.

The awkwardness did not end there. Similar scenes unfolded during the national anthems, with players from both teams keeping their distance. When the squads assembled near the boundary rope before taking the field, there were no customary handshakes or interactions, further highlighting the cold mood surrounding the contest.

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India’s approach mirrors a broader stance the country’s cricket teams have adopted in recent times. Following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025, which claimed the lives of several civilians and escalated tensions between India and Pakistan, Indian teams across age groups have refrained from engaging in handshakes or formal interactions with Pakistani sides. As part of this symbolic protest against terrorism and in solidarity with the victims’ families, India also declined to receive the Asia Cup 2025 trophy from PCB and ACB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s Interior Minister.

That same posture appeared to carry over into the Under-19 World Cup clash in Bulawayo, setting a tense backdrop for the high-stakes India-Bangladesh encounter.