The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) explained that the lack of a handshake at the toss before their 2026 ICC Under-19 World Cup match against India was accidental. Due to the illness of regular captain Azizul Hakim, vice-captain Zawad Abrar stood in at the toss and did not shake hands with India’s captain. The incident, which occurred before the delayed match due to rain, was described as a momentary lapse in concentration.
BCB addressed the issue, emphasizing that the absence of the handshake was unintended and not meant to show disrespect. They highlighted the importance of upholding cricketing spirit and respect for opponents at all levels of representation. The players were reminded of the significance of maintaining sportsmanship, camaraderie, and mutual respect in their interactions with other teams.
In a similar vein, instances of non-handshakes at the toss were noted during last year’s Men’s T20 Asia Cup between India and Pakistan. This incident comes amidst strained cricketing relations between Bangladesh and India. Additionally, the BCB is looking to avoid playing its Men’s T20 World Cup matches in India, particularly after the Kolkata Knight Riders were asked to release Bangladesh’s Mustafizur Rahman for the 2026 IPL season.
