India A Maintains No-Handshake Stance Against Pakistan
The Indian cricket team's no-handshake policy against Pakistan continued during the India A versus Pakistan Shaheens match at the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha on Sunday. Following the national anthems, players from the Indian side refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts, adhering to the Board of Control for Cricket in India's (BCCI) recently implemented protocol.
Consistent Policy Across Teams
This incident follows the pattern established by the Indian senior cricket team earlier this year. During the Asia Cup tournament in September, the Indian men's team consistently avoided handshakes with Pakistani players across all three matches between the rival nations, including the highly anticipated final.
The policy originally began as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of terror attacks in Pahalgam back in April, but has since evolved into a standard protocol for Indian teams facing Pakistan in international cricket events.
Match Details and Performance
In the ongoing match at West End Park in Doha, Pakistan A won the toss and elected to bowl first. The Indian team found themselves in a challenging position, having lost six wickets after playing 14 overs.
Teen sensation Vaibhav Suryavanshi emerged as the standout performer for India A, scoring an impressive 45 runs from just 28 deliveries. His explosive innings included three sixes and five boundaries, providing much-needed momentum to the Indian innings.
Squad Compositions and Broadcasting
The India A squad, led by wicketkeeper-captain Jitesh Sharma, features promising talents including Priyansh Arya, Naman Dhir, and Nehal Wadhera. The Pakistan Shaheens, captained by Irfan Khan, include players like Mohammad Naeem, Maaz Sadaqat, and Yasir Khan.
Cricket enthusiasts in India can catch the action on Sony Sports Network, with live telecast available on Sony Sports Ten 1 SD and HD channels starting from 8 PM Indian Standard Time. For digital viewers, the match is being streamed live on the SonyLIV application and official website.
The continued absence of handshakes between Indian and Pakistani cricketers has drawn significant attention to how both teams manage their interactions during international tournaments organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC). This development becomes particularly noteworthy given the current suspension of bilateral cricket series between the two neighboring nations.
