No handshake at toss as India opt to bat in Asian Games final against Pakistan

In the Asian Games final at Korogi Sports Park, India captain Shreyas Iyer elected to bat first after winning the toss against Pakistan, declining to shake hands with his counterpart Sahibzada Farhan. This gesture of non-handshaking between the two nations has become a recurring theme in their cricket encounters, originating from the 2025 Asia Cup and continuing through subsequent tournaments including the Women's World Cup, Under-19 Asia Cup, and Women's Asia Cup.

The cessation of handshakes is linked to the deteriorating relations between India and Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 and subsequent military escalations. Despite the strained relations, athletes from both countries continue to shake hands and exhibit sportsmanship in other disciplines at the Asian Games, such as table-tennis and hockey.

The Pakistan Cricket Board has acknowledged the practice, stating that Pakistan would not insist on handshakes if India did not agree, emphasizing that politics should not intrude into cricket.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.