The captains of two teams had avoided shaking hands at the toss.
India and Bangladesh players engaged in customary handshakes at the end of their U19 ODI World Cup fixture in Bulawayo on Saturday (January 17), with the teams remaining cordial amid rising tensions between the two boards.
The moment came as a relief for fans after the captains of the two teams avoided shaking hands at the toss, drawing parallels with India–Pakistan encounters at the Asia Cup last September.
The Bangladesh Cricket Board, however, clarified soon after that vice-captain Zawad Abrar snubbing handshake with his Indian counterpart Ayush Mhatre was not a sign of disrespect.
The board said the gesture slipped Zawad’s mind as he walked in for the toss after regular skipper Azizul Hakim fell ill shortly before the game.
The two teams lined up for handshakes at the end of the match following India’s 18-run victory in a rain-marred contest. Bangladesh were cruising in the chase and were ahead even with 10 overs remaining, but suffered a collapse against India’s spin attack.
Vihaan Malhotra starred with the ball, claiming four wickets in his four overs to derail Bangladesh’s chase and seal the win for India.
Bangladesh players and coaching staff shook hands cordially with their Indian counterparts after the match, putting all sorts of speculations to rest.
Earlier, the BCB issued a statement, citing that the absence of a handshake at the toss was unintentional.
“The Board has viewed the matter with due seriousness, as upholding the spirit of cricket and respect for opponents is a fundamental prerequisite for representing Bangladesh at any level, and immediately advised the team management accordingly. The players have also been reminded of their responsibility to maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship, camaraderie and mutual respect in all interactions with opposing teams. The Bangladesh Cricket Board remains fully committed to the values of cricket, both on and off the field,” the statement read.