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BCB issues damage control statement under pressure from BCCI after India-Bangladesh Under-19 handshake controversy

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A surprise moment at the toss in the ongoing ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 quickly turned into a full-fledged controversy, forcing the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to go into immediate damage-control mode as pressure mounted from all sides, including the BCCI.

Not shaking hands at the time of toss created a big storm in ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026.

Ahead of the group match between India U19 and Bangladesh U19 in Bulawayo, captain Ayush Mhatre and Jawad Abrar came for the toss, but there was no handshake. With behavior and sportsmanship being closely monitored on the global stage, the move immediately raised eyebrows, especially given the ongoing tense situation between India and Bangladesh.

Also read: India’s Ayush Mhatre refuses to shake hands with Bangladesh captain, gives ‘Pakistan like behavior’ in U19 World Cup

India later won the ICC Under-19 World Cup 2026 group match against Bangladesh by 18 runs via the DLS method. Interestingly, after the match in Bulawayo, the players of both the teams shook hands, but by then the damage was already done. The non-shaking of hands at the time of the toss had already triggered sharp reactions online and within cricket boards.

BCB told what went wrong in the toss

As questions grew, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a clarification explaining what exactly happened. The board said regular captain Azizul Hakim was ill and could not come for the toss at the last minute and vice-captain Jawad Abrar had to take the field.

In that brief moment, the usual handshake was missed, as the BCB insisted that it was a simple mistake, not planned, and was not intended to insult India in any way. However, BCCI has not yet given any reaction on this matter. However, BCB also made it clear that it took the issue seriously.

“The BCB wishes to clarify that not shaking hands with the opposition captain was completely unintentional and resulted from a momentary lapse in concentration. There was no intention to show rudeness or disregard towards the opposition,” the statement said.

Players reminded of responsibility and sportsmanship

The team management was immediately spoken to and the players were reminded that it is extremely important to show respect towards opponents, especially when representing the country on the world stage. The Board stressed that good behaviour, respect and sportsmanship are basic requirements for anyone playing for Bangladesh.

Also read: Vaibhav Suryavanshi created history, became the youngest player to score a half-century in the U19 World Cup.

BCB further said, “The Board has taken this matter seriously, as maintaining the spirit of cricket and respect for the opponents is a fundamental prerequisite for representing Bangladesh at any level, and immediately advised the team management accordingly.”

Players have also been reminded of their responsibility to maintain the highest standards of sportsmanship, cordiality and mutual respect in all interactions with opposing teams. Bangladesh Cricket Board is fully committed to the values ​​of cricket on and off the field.

Tension is already at its peak between India and Bangladesh

This incident has come to light at a time when handshake has already become a sensitive issue. Similar scenes have been seen in matches between India and Pakistan in many tournaments, with hands not being shaken before and after the game due to political tension following the Pahalgam attack.

At the same time, relations between India and Bangladesh are also under tension. Recently, BCCI asked Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) to release Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman from their IPL 2026 squad.

In response, the Bangladesh government banned the IPL in the country until further notice, and the BCB refused to send its team to India for the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, as the issue has not been resolved yet.

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