Will India and Pakistan players shake hands? LIVE updates from Asian Games cricket final as handshake drama looms in Japan

India and Pakistan players are set to face a handshake drama as they prepare to compete in the Asian Games cricket final in Japan. The question of whether the Indian and Pakistani athletes will extend a hand across the crease after the match has sparked intense debate among cricket fans and media outlets. This controversy stems from a long-standing policy adopted by Indian cricket teams to eschew handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts at recent ICC and ACC events, following cross-border tensions and military operations.

However, the Asian Games presents a different scenario, governed by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) rather than bilateral cricketing bodies. While handshakes have been customary at multi-sport events, the issue remains unresolved for the cricket team, leaving it under scrutiny. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and senior Indian officials in Japan will ultimately decide on the team's stance, but both India and Pakistan must share the podium, according to OCA protocols.

The Indian cricket squad has previously refrained from handshakes with Pakistani teams, but they have exchanged handshakes and friendly gestures with Pakistani athletes in other sports at the Asian Games, avoiding any controversy. As the final unfolds, the players will have to navigate the waters of sportsmanship and diplomacy amidst a charged political atmosphere.