Overview
- Speaking in Lahore, Mohsin Naqvi said Pakistan has no desire to initiate handshakes if India declines and that interactions will proceed on equal terms.
- Naqvi cited Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s guidance to keep politics out of cricket as he defended the reciprocal stance.
- Indian men’s, women’s and U19 teams have maintained a no-handshake posture since September in solidarity with victims of the Pahalgam attack.
- Tensions intensified at the U19 Asia Cup final that Pakistan won by 191 runs, after which mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed alleged unethical conduct by India’s players.
- Reports say Naqvi may take conduct concerns to the ICC, which had earlier urged the BCCI to reconsider applying the policy at junior level before leaving the decision to India’s board.