The India vs Pakistan rivalry is set to produce another big talking point when the two teams meet in the Asian Games men’s cricket final on Saturday.
India booked their place in the gold-medal match after beating Sri Lanka by 124 runs in the semifinal on Thursday. Pakistan also reached the final, setting up another high-profile clash between the two sides.
But this time, the biggest discussion before the match may not be about cricket alone. The question of whether the Indian and Pakistani players will shake hands is likely to be back in focus.
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What Happens If The Teams Meet At The End?
Indian cricket teams have avoided handshakes with Pakistan in recent Asia Cup and ICC events. The practice has continued in matches involving the two countries, including their recent women’s Asia Cup meeting, where the captains also skipped the customary handshake at the toss.
The Asian Games, however, are a different sporting event. Cricket at the 2026 Games is being played under the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), rather than being an ICC tournament. The OCA has included men’s and women’s T20 cricket in the Aichi-Nagoya Games.
This raises the question of whether the approach followed by Indian cricket teams in ICC and ACC competitions will also apply at the Asian Games.
Is A Handshake Mandatory?
A handshake is generally regarded as a sporting gesture and part of the spirit of fair play, but it is not simply a cricket rule that automatically decides what players must do after a match.
There have also been instances in international sport where athletes have refused to shake hands with opponents for political or other reasons.
At the 2016 Rio Olympics, Egyptian judoka Islam El Shehaby refused to shake hands with Israeli opponent Or Sasson. The IOC reprimanded him for conduct that it said went against the rules of fair play and the Olympic spirit, and he was later sent home by his team.
Indian Athletes Have Shaken Hands With Pakistan
The situation at the Asian Games has also been different in other sports.
Indian and Pakistani athletes have exchanged handshakes in events such as table tennis and squash during the ongoing Games.
That means the cricket final could bring a different situation, with the cricket team’s approach potentially drawing attention because of the recent history between the two sides.
Who Will Take The Final Call?
It remains to be seen what the Indian cricket team management decides before and after the final.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia is expected to be in Nagoya for the match, while ICC chairman Jay Shah is also expected to attend the game.
Whatever happens on the field, India and Pakistan are likely to share the podium if both teams finish among the medal positions. India’s women’s team had already shared the podium with Pakistani athletes after winning gold earlier in the Games.
