Bulawayo, January 17, 2026: An unusual moment was witnessed ahead of the Under-19 World Cup 2026 group-stage match between India and Bangladesh, as the two team captains did not exchange a handshake during the toss ceremony. The incident took place before the delayed start of the match, which was affected by rain.
India U19 captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh stand-in captain Jawad Abrar were seen standing apart during the toss, with no customary handshake between them. Bangladesh won the toss and opted to bowl first. No official statement has been issued by either team regarding the incident.
Bangladesh’s regular U19 captain, Mohammad Azizul Hakim Tamim, missed the match due to illness, leading to vice-captain Jawad Abrar taking charge. Ayush Mhatre is leading the Indian side in the contest, which is India’s second group match of the tournament.
Strained Cricketing Relations
The incident comes amid strained cricketing relations between India and Bangladesh in recent months. The situation escalated following the Board of Control for Cricket in India’s (BCCI) decision to exclude Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from the IPL 2026 season. The decision followed protests in India over developments in Bangladesh, after which the BCCI cited administrative reasons for the move.
Subsequently, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) raised concerns over security and indicated that the national team may not travel to India for the T20 World Cup 2026. The matter has since been referred to the International Cricket Council (ICC), which has not accepted Bangladesh’s request to relocate matches.
According to sources, an ICC delegation may visit Bangladesh to hold discussions with the country’s cricket board and sports ministry regarding participation in the World Cup. Bangladesh authorities have reportedly maintained their stance that the team will not travel to India and have suggested Sri Lanka as a neutral venue for their matches.
The handshake incident at the U19 World Cup has further drawn attention to the ongoing diplomatic and sporting tensions between the two cricketing nations.
Discover more from SD NEWS agency
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.