India has sparked controversy at the ICC Under-19 World Cup after its captain refused to shake hands with Bangladesh’s captain. The incident occurred during the toss. It marked the first such occurrence in ICC tournament history and drew widespread criticism.
The handshake refusal reflected ongoing political tensions between India and Bangladesh. Observers said cricket once again appeared influenced by politics. The moment quickly went viral and overshadowed the match itself.
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Tensions had already been rising between the two countries in recent months. In India, calls emerged to remove Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL. Following public pressure, Kolkata Knight Riders released the player from their squad.
In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board refused to send its team to India. It demanded a neutral venue from the ICC. Later, Bangladesh initially denied a visa to an Indian ICC official before reversing its decision.
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The trend of avoiding handshakes began last year at the Asia Cup T20. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav avoided shaking hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. Similar incidents followed across multiple events, raising concerns about sportsmanship in cricket.