Doha, Qatar - In a scene reminiscent of recent encounters between the senior national teams, the India A and Pakistan A squads continued the "no handshake" policy at the toss during their Asia Cup Rising Stars match today. The gesture, or lack thereof, has become a symbolic element in India-Pakistan cricket matches this year, reflecting ongoing tensions beyond the sport.

Pakistan A won the toss and elected to bowl first at the West End Park International Cricket Stadium in Doha. The Indian team, led by Jitesh Sharma, lined up for the pre-match formalities alongside Pakistan A, captained by Irfan Khan, but the traditional handshake was conspicuously absent. This follows the pattern set by the senior Indian team during the Asia Cup in September, where they avoided handshakes with Pakistani players in all three matches, including the final.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has seemingly adopted this "no handshake" policy to express solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. This stance began earlier this year and has now extended to the junior level, as evidenced by the Rising Stars Asia Cup match.

While the absence of a handshake might seem like a minor detail, it carries significant symbolic weight in the context of India-Pakistan relations. In cricketing culture, handshakes are seen as a sign of respect and sportsmanship. Its omission suggests underlying tensions that transcend the game itself.

Despite the pre-match gesture, both teams proceeded with their warm-ups and match preparations as usual. All eyes were on 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryavanshi, who has been making headlines with his explosive batting performances. Suryavanshi had previously scored a blistering century in just 32 balls against UAE in the same tournament. In today's match, he scored 45 runs off 28 balls. Ultimately, India A were all out for 136.

This is the fifth time India and Pakistan have faced each other in cricket in 2025. India holds a 4-1 head-to-head record against Pakistan in junior Asia Cup matches. Pakistan's sole victory came in 2019.

The Asia Cup Rising Stars, formerly known as the Emerging Asia Cup, features A teams and U-23 players. Eight teams are participating in the tournament, divided into two groups. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, which will be held on November 21, followed by the final on November 23.

The match is being broadcast live on Sony Sports Network in India, with live streaming available on the Sony LIV app and website.