BULAWAYO — Relations between India and Bangladesh appeared strained on Saturday when the two teams avoided the traditional handshake between captains at the toss of their U-19 World Cup match in Zimbabwe.
Bangladesh’s stand-in captain Zawad Abrar and India’s skipper Ayush Mhatre stood apart at the pre-match toss, which Abrar won, marking a visible break from cricketing protocol. Dhaka-based newspaper Prothom Alo later reported that it remained unclear which side chose to skip the gesture.
The incident follows a similar pattern from last year, when Indian players declined to shake hands with Pakistan during the Asia Cup after a period of military tension between the two countries.
The development also comes as Bangladesh has said it will not play its upcoming T20 World Cup matches in India after fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was released by his Indian Premier League franchise. Kolkata had purchased Mustafizur at auction in December for over $1 million, but his removal from the squad triggered strong criticism in Dhaka.
In response, the Bangladesh Cricket Board formally asked the International Cricket Council to move its fixtures to Sri Lanka. During a recent virtual meeting, the BCB reiterated its request for games to be relocated outside India.
Beyond cricket, diplomatic ties have been rocky since a mass uprising in Bangladesh in 2024 led to the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, a longtime partner of New Delhi. India has since criticised what it describes as rising hostility toward minorities in Bangladesh, while interim leader Muhammad Yunus has accused India of overstating the violence.
The skipped handshake has therefore become another symbol of a broader political and sporting rift between the two neighbours.
Originally published by Dawn News.
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