Archive · 14 Sep 2026
India’s Cricket Handshake Policy Sparks Debate Over Patriotism
Indian cricket teams have avoided handshakes with Pakistani players and declined a trophy from a Pakistani official.
This practice began after a terror attack and worsening relations between India and Pakistan.
India still plays Pakistan in tournaments involving many countries, such as the Asia Cup.
The official involved, Mohsin Naqvi, is both a Pakistani government minister and a cricket administrator.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India says it is respecting public feelings and following the government’s approach.
The article’s writer says this makes cricket look more patriotic than other sports.
Indian athletes in hockey, squash, kabaddi and other sports still greet Pakistani opponents.
The writer argues that cricket should not create a separate standard for patriotism.
The issue may arise again if Indian athletes must receive medals from Pakistani sporting officials.
India’s women’s cricket team continued the no-handshake policy against Pakistan during the Women’s Asia Cup.
After winning the tournament on Sunday, India declined to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi.
The policy began with Suryakumar Yadav’s India at the men’s Asia Cup after the Pahalgam terror attack and worsening India-Pakistan ties.
The Board of Control for Cricket in India says the decisions reflect prevailing public sentiment and align with the government.
Critics say cricket should follow the same sporting protocols as other Indian athletes who shake hands and share podiums with Pakistani competitors.
- Who
- India’s men’s and women’s cricket teams, the Board of Control for Cricket in India, Pakistani opponents and Mohsin Naqvi.
- What
- India has declined customary handshakes with Pakistan’s cricketers and refused to accept a trophy from Naqvi after the Women’s Asia Cup.
- When
- The women’s team did so during the Women’s Asia Cup, which India won on Sunday; the broader policy began at last year’s men’s Asia Cup.
- Where
- At multinational cricket tournaments involving India and Pakistan, including the Asia Cup.
- Why
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India says the decisions reflect prevailing public sentiment and align with the government amid strained India-Pakistan relations.
Critics of cricket’s stance
BCCI’s stated position
Handshakes and patriotism
Critics of cricket’s stance
Cricket should follow the same protocols as other sports; refusing handshakes can suggest that cricketers are more patriotic than other Indian athletes.
BCCI’s stated position
The Board of Control for Cricket in India says cricket’s decisions reflect prevailing public sentiment amid strained relations with Pakistan.
Participation versus gestures
Critics of cricket’s stance
Critics say it is inconsistent to play Pakistan in multinational tournaments while refusing a handshake or trophy presentation.
BCCI’s stated position
India’s participation is limited to multinational events because the government sets the broad parameters of engagement, while ceremonial decisions reflect the political circumstances.
Receiving the trophy
Critics of cricket’s stance
The refusal to accept a trophy from a Pakistani sporting official is viewed as an unnecessarily political message, especially because Naqvi also holds an Asian cricket office.
BCCI’s stated position
Naqvi’s roles as Pakistan’s interior minister and Pakistan Cricket Board chairman give the presentation a political dimension beyond an ordinary sporting ceremony.
- Policy origin
- The no-handshake approach began with Suryakumar Yadav’s India at last year’s men’s Asia Cup.
- Recent incident
- India’s women’s team declined to accept the Women’s Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi after winning on Sunday.
- India-Pakistan cricket
- India does not play bilateral cricket against Pakistan but competes against it in multinational tournaments.
- Mohsin Naqvi’s roles
- Naqvi is president of the Asian Cricket Council, Pakistan’s interior minister and chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
- BCCI position
- The Board of Control for Cricket in India says the decisions respect prevailing sentiments in the country and align with the government.
- Other sports
- Indian and Pakistani athletes in sports including hockey, kabaddi, squash and boxing have continued customary greetings or contact.