- By Himanshu Badola
- Sun, 18 Jan 2026 03:52 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs BAN, ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026: India and Bangladesh players were seen shaking hands after their match ended in the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 at the Queen Sports Club in Bulawayo on Saturday. India defeated Bangladesh by 18 runs in the rain-hit, thrilling contest to maintain their winning run in the tournament.
India captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh vice-captain Zawad Abrar, standing in for his regular skipper, didn’t shake hands at the toss. The instance recalled the memories of the Asia Cup 2025, during which India deliberately avoided the customary handshake with the Pakistani players as a mark of protest against the Pahalgam Terror Attack.
Amid the ongoing political and cricketing tensions between India and Bangladesh, it was feared that the row would only escalate after the toss incident, starting with a youth game. However, after India finished on the right side in a tense game, the players followed the custom as usual. Earlier, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) had registered a clarification about there being no handshake at the toss, calling it ‘completely unintentional’.
ALSO READ: India vs New Zealand LIVE Cricket Score, 3rd ODI Updates
"The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) has taken note of an inadvertent and unwarranted action that occurred at the toss prior to the opening match of the ICC Under 19 World Cup 2026, Zimbabwe & Namibia, between Bangladesh and India," the board said.
"Due to illness, regular captain Azizul Hakim was unable to attend the toss, and vice-captain Zawad Abrar represented the team on the occasion. The BCB wishes to clarify that the absence of a handshake with the opposition captain was completely unintentional and resulted from a momentary lapse in concentration. There was no intent whatsoever to show discourtesy or disregard towards the opposition."
ALSO READ: India U19 Captain Ayush Mhatre Full Of Praise For 14-Year-Old Post Thrilling Win Over Bangladesh
"The Board has viewed the matter with due seriousness, as upholding the spirit of cricket and respect for opponents is a fundamental prerequisite for representing Bangladesh at any level and immediately advised the team management accordingly. The players have also been reminded of their responsibility to maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship, camaraderie and mutual respect in all interactions with opposing teams. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains fully committed to the values of cricket, both on and off the field," the statement added.
Notably, the India vs Bangladesh in the U19 World Cup was played amid the ongoing standoff between the BCB and the BCCI over the T20 World Cup 2026. Bangladesh have expressed their reluctance against travelling to India for the marquee tournament, which kicks off on February 7. The whole controversy started after the BCCI instructed the KKR to release Bangladesh's pacer Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad following the recent rise in the killings of Hindus in the neighbouring country.