India–Pakistan Cricket Rift Deepens as PCB Warns: “No Handshake if Not Equal”

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Mohsin Naqvi has said Pakistan will no longer extend handshakes to Indian teams if the gesture is not reciprocated, as tensions between the two cricket boards continue to deepen. The two sides have not taken part in post-match handshakes since the Men's Asia Cup in September, with Pakistan saying future interactions must reflect "mutual respect and equal footing."

The standoff, which began after the April Pahalgam attack, has affected senior and junior tournaments across formats. Naqvi said Pakistan is still willing to engage through cricket, but only when "politics stays outside the boundary line."

Handshake Freeze Extends Across Formats

The absence of post-match handshakes has spread across multiple events, including the Women's World Cup in October, the U19 Men's Asia Cup earlier this month, and the Rising Stars Asia Cup in Doha. Fans on both sides have raised concerns over sportsmanship amid rising friction.

Tempers ran particularly high during the U19 Asia Cup final, where Pakistan defeated India by 191 runs. Pakistan's Ali Raza was involved in two on-field confrontations-with Indian captain Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi-adding to the tense atmosphere. Former Pakistan captain Sarfaraz Ahmed later criticised what he called "emotional reactions" by Indian players, saying some gestures "crossed ethical lines."

Naqvi is also under scrutiny over the trophy presentation at the Men's Asia Cup. Indian players did not collect the trophy from Naqvi-who also serves as Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president-after their tournament win. The trophy was not handed over on the ground and later appeared in footage being taken away from the venue by Naqvi, prompting criticism.

Indian officials claimed the moment was avoidable and alleged politics was allowed to overshadow a major continental event. Naqvi later said he followed ACC protocol and that India could collect the trophy from the ACC office. The clarification did little to calm reactions, with former cricketers warning that politics should not seep into sport.

Naqvi: "Approach Will Remain the Same Going Forward"

Speaking in Lahore, Naqvi reiterated Pakistan's stance.

"Our belief remains the same... cricket and politics should remain separate," he said. "If they don't want to shake hands, we have no desire either. Whatever happens will be on equal footing. It's not possible for them to do one thing and for us to back down."