India, Pakistan U19 Captains Skip Handshake Again: A Recurring Trend

• India and Pakistan U19 captains, Ayush Mhatre and Farhan Yousaf, skipped the customary pre-match handshake at the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 Super 6 match.
• This incident follows a pattern of no-handshake gestures in India-Pakistan matches, which began with the 2025 Asia Cup involving Suryakumar Yadav.
• The India A team also avoided handshakes with Pakistan Shaheens in the Asia Cup Rising Stars 2025, indicating a broader trend.
• Pakistan U19 won the toss and opted to bowl first in the crucial Super 6 Group 2 match, which is a must-win for both teams to qualify for the semi-finals.
• England has already qualified from Super Six Group 2, leaving one spot for which India and Pakistan are competing, with India currently having a superior net run rate.

Why It Matters: The absence of handshakes between India and Pakistan cricket teams, including U19, is now a familiar trend.