PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi Responds to India's 'No-Handshake' Policy With Pakistan Across Competitions, Says 'Whatever Happens, It Will Happen On An Equal Footing'
India's "no-handshake" policy with Pakistan, initiated during the Men's Asia Cup in September 2025 as a mark of solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, is set to continue in future encounters. This decision, reportedly a directive from the BCCI to all national teams, has been consistently upheld across subsequent tournaments.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has publicly responded to what he referred to as India's "no-handshake policy," asserting that Pakistan has no desire to force the gesture either. Naqvi emphasised that all future interactions with India will be on an equal footing, making it clear that Pakistan will not "back down" or "beg" for a handshake if the gesture is not reciprocated. He reiterated the official PCB stance that cricket and politics should remain separate, but the board will respond to India's policy in kind to ensure parity in their cricketing relationship. Indian Cricketers Led By Ayush Mhatre Avoid Handshake With Pakistan Players Again After Winning IND vs PAK U19 Asia Cup 2025 Match (Watch Video).
India's "no-handshake" policy with Pakistan, initiated during the Men's Asia Cup in September 2025 as a mark of solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam terror attack, is set to continue in future encounters. This decision, reportedly a directive from the BCCI to all national teams (men's, women's, and U19), has been consistently upheld across subsequent tournaments, including the Women's ODI World Cup and U19 Asia Cup.
Mohsin Naqvi Emphasizes Openness
During a recent press interaction, Naqvi stated, “Our belief remains the same even today, and believe me, the Prime Minister himself has told me twice that we shouldn’t let politics come into all of this. From day one, our stance has been that cricket and politics should remain separate. On that day, Sarfaraz must have told you what kind of attitude was shown, and what it was like,” said Naqvi.
He further added, “If they don’t want to shake hands, then we have no particular desire to do so either. Whatever happens, it will happen on an equal footing with India. And you will see, this approach will continue going forward. It’s not possible for them to do one thing and for us to back down – that simply won’t happen.”
Historical Context of Strained Relations
India and Pakistan have not engaged in a bilateral cricket series since 2012-13, primarily due to prevailing political tensions. Their cricketing encounters are largely confined to multi-nation tournaments organized by the International Cricket Council (ICC) or the Asia Cup. Even in these events, interactions between players and officials from both sides are often closely monitored and subject to public scrutiny.
The absence of regular bilateral series represents a significant void for fans in both countries, who eagerly anticipate the historic rivalry. Despite calls from various quarters for the resumption of cricketing ties, governmental approvals and diplomatic relations heavily influence the scheduling and execution of such series.
Implications for Cricket Diplomacy
Naqvi's remarks underscore the persistent challenges in normalizing cricketing relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors. The PCB has consistently expressed its readiness to host or participate in matches against India, provided the necessary clearances are obtained from both governments.
This public affirmation from the PCB chief signals Pakistan's desire for a less politicized approach to sports. However, observers suggest that a substantive breakthrough in India-Pakistan cricketing ties would likely require broader diplomatic initiatives beyond the purview of sports federations alone. Vaibhav Suryavanshi and Ali Raza Engage in Heated Exchange After Pakistan Pacer Celebrates Aggressively After Dismissing India Opener During IND vs PAK U-19 Asia Cup 2025 Final (Watch Video).
Future Outlook
As the cricketing world looks towards upcoming international tournaments, Naqvi's comments serve as a reminder of the complex interplay between sports and geopolitics in South Asia. Pakistan's reiteration of its commitment to amicable sporting exchanges highlights an ongoing desire to use cricket as a bridge, even as political realities continue to dictate the terms of engagement. The path to regular bilateral cricket remains dependent on broader diplomatic progress.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Dec 29, 2025 04:44 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).