India, Bangladesh U19 captains skip handshake at toss as tensions surface during World Cup match

Off-field tensions between India and Bangladesh appeared to spill onto the cricket field on Saturday after the captains of the two Under-19 teams skipped the customary handshake during the toss at the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup.

The moment unfolded ahead of the Group B match at the Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo, where India’s captain Ayush Mhatre and Bangladesh’s vice-captain Zawad Abrar went their separate ways after the coin toss without acknowledging each other.

Bangladesh won the toss and elected to bowl first. As the broadcast cameras followed the captains, Mhatre stepped back rather than extend a handshake, while Abrar moved ahead to speak with officials, with neither making eye contact. The absence of interaction continued during the national anthems, where players from both teams stood apart.

Bangladesh’s regular Under-19 captain, Md Azizul Hakim Tamim, was unavailable for the fixture due to illness, leading Abrar to lead the side at the toss.

The incident drew attention as similar no-handshake moments have been seen in recent years during matches involving politically tense rivalries, most notably between India and Pakistan in senior and age-group tournaments. Observers noted that the gesture appeared deliberate rather than accidental.

On the field, competitive intensity was also visible, with India’s opening batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi seen exchanging words with Bangladesh players during the early stages of the innings. The episode comes amid broader diplomatic strains between the two countries, which have increasingly found indirect expression in sporting contexts. While cricketing authorities have not issued any official comment on the incident, the moment quickly gained traction on social media and among fans following the tournament closely.

The Under-19 World Cup continues with both teams aiming to secure crucial points in the group stage, even as attention briefly shifted from cricketing action to the symbolism of conduct at the toss.