The Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 is all set to begin on Friday, December 12 and all eyes are on India as they aim to clinch yet another title. Furthermore, the India vs Pakistan rivalry is set to take center stage once again in the upcoming junior subcontinental tournament.
India Under-19 team is entering the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 as one of the favorites thanks to the presence of young stars like captain Ayush Mhatre and explosive opener Vaibhav Suryavanshi. They have been grouped with Pakistan, United Arab Emirates and Malaysia. Whereas Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Nepal have been kept in Group B.
ICC takes action ahead of high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash in Under-19 Asia Cup 2025
The most talked about match will undoubtedly be India vs Pakistan, which is scheduled to take place on December 14 at the ICC Academy Ground in Dubai. India vs Pakistan match always gets extra attention due to the intense rivalry between the two countries.
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The match is already attracting attention due to the on-field drama controversy that has unfolded in previous events. In recent tournaments including the Senior Men’s Asia Cup 2025, ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 and Rising Stars Asia Cup 2025, Indian teams have refused to join hands with their Pakistani counterparts.
They even avoided any kind of exchange with Pakistanis. This stance has been taken to show solidarity with the Indian Army and to honor the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack earlier this year. This trend is likely to continue in the Under-19 Asia Cup 2025 during the India vs Pakistan match, but now the International Cricket Council (ICC) has taken steps to avoid controversy.
ICC orders Under-19 players of India and Pakistan to join hands in Under-19 Asia Cup 2025
The ICC has ordered players from both the countries to put aside political differences and follow the standard sportsmanship protocol by shaking hands after the games in the tournament. The governing body hopes that the Under-19 Asia Cup will focus entirely on cricket.
The ICC has asked the BCCI to ensure that Indian players avoid shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts during Under-19 Asia Cup matches.
However, a BCCI official revealed that no specific instructions have been given to the players, but they have spoken to team manager Anand Datar and head coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar about how to handle the situation.
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Is BCCI preparing for another India vs Pakistan controversy?
“The boys have not been told anything. But apparently the BCCI has given clear instructions to its manager Anand Datar,” a BCCI official close to the development was quoted as saying by PTI on condition of anonymity.
Now if the Indian boys do not shake hands with the Pakistan team then the match referee will have to be informed in advance. We know for a fact that ICC does not want politics to come into play when it comes to junior cricket. So, it is a matter of both poor approach and public sentiment.
