The body language of captains was certainly a reflection of the worsening India-Bangladesh relations.
India U-19 skipper Ayush Mhatre refused to shake hands his Bangladesh counterpart during Match 7 of the ICC U-19 World Cup 2026 on Saturday (January 17) at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo.
With Bangladesh captain Md Azizul Hakim Tamim unwell, vice-captain Zawad Abrar came out for the toss. However, tension was palpable in the air as the two captains avoided a handshake.
After Bangladesh won the toss and elected to field first, Abrar was seen walking closely past Mhatre, but the duo refrained from making an eye contact.
Minutes later, players from both sides were waiting on the boundary for national anthems. However, as they stepped onto the field, they once again avoided any interaction and handshakes.
The body language of cricketers was certainly a reflection of the worsening India-Bangladesh relations in recent times.
Earlier this month, Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) released Mustafizur Rahman from their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2026 roster after receiving the BCCI’s directive.
Mustafizur, the only Bangladeshi representative in the upcoming IPL season, was signed by KKR for Rs 9.2 crore in the mini-auction last month. However, as reports of atrocities on Hindus in Bangladesh increased, there was growing demand of removing the left-arm quick from the league.
In light if the situation, the BCCI instructed KKR to release Mustafizur and the franchise obliged, a move that left the Bangladesh cricket fraternity fuming.
In retaliation to the pacer’s release, the BCB wrote to the ICC and urged the apex body to relocate their T20 World Cup 2026 matches to Sri Lanka, citing security concerns in India. The Bangladesh government has also suspended the telecast of IPL in the country.
With only three weeks remaining for the upcoming T20 World Cup, Bangladesh’s participation in the global showpiece continues to remain uncertain. The Bangla Tigers are scheduled to play their group-stage fixtures in Kolkata and Mumbai.