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India U19s Face UAE Amidst Handshake Diplomacy
12 Dec
Summary
- India's U19 Asia Cup campaign begins with a match against UAE.
- Team India U19 received explicit instructions regarding player handshakes.
- Star batsmen Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi lead India's strong squad.
The ACC Men's U19 Asia Cup 2025 commences today with India facing the UAE. However, the tournament is overshadowed by a diplomatic quandary: whether India's junior cricketers will engage in customary handshakes with Pakistani players. This follows similar incidents in senior tournaments where India has opted out of handshakes as a protest.
Cricket administrators are navigating a delicate path between international optics and domestic sentiment. Explicit directives have been issued to the U19 team manager concerning any potential refusal to shake hands, requiring prior notification to the match referee. This approach aims to avoid negative international perceptions while respecting public feelings at home.
On the cricketing front, India is a dominant force, spearheaded by batting prodigies Ayush Mhatre and Vaibhav Suryavanshi. Their collective senior-level century count significantly outweighs that of other participating teams. Defending champions Bangladesh, bolstered by all-rounder Rizan Hossan, also view the tournament as crucial preparation for the upcoming World Cup.
