The long-standing political tension between India and Pakistan continues to cast a deep shadow over cricketing relations, with the latest “no-handshake” controversy highlighting the fragile state of bilateral ties. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary, Devajit Saikia, has made it clear that there is currently no possibility of reversing India’s policy of avoiding handshakes with Pakistan until geopolitical conditions improve.
The issue resurfaced during the 2025 Asia Cup when India captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha after their encounter. Across three meetings in the tournament, neither side engaged in the traditional post-match handshake, a gesture normally seen as emblematic of sporting respect.
This approach has extended beyond men’s cricket. During the Women’s ODI World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur’s team also refrained from shaking hands with Pakistani players. The stance has continued into the ongoing Asia Cup Rising Stars competition, where India A captain Jitesh Sharma echoed the policy, reinforcing the board’s official position.
Saikia’s comments reflect both pragmatism and humour: “I am not an astrologer; I cannot predict anything. Everything hinges on geopolitical conditions. The atmosphere is far from favourable, and it is difficult to foresee what may change in the future.”
Cricket analysts suggest that this approach will remain the norm until political relations between the two nations stabilise. The upcoming 2026 ICC T20 World Cup, where India and Pakistan are scheduled to meet in the group stage, will test whether tradition or geopolitics prevails on the global stage.
