Will India and Pakistan players shake hands? LIVE updates from Asian Games cricket final as handshake drama looms in Japan originally appeared on Cricket News.
Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Indian cricket teams have refused handshakes with Pakistan in recent ICC and ACC events, following cross-border tensions and Operation Sindoor.
- Indian athletes in table tennis, squash, volleyball and hockey have exchanged handshakes and hugs with Pakistani rivals at the Asian Games without incident.
- BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and senior officials in Japan will decide the cricket team’s stance, though both teams must share the podium.
India vs Pakistan Asian Games 2026 final: Will players shake hands?
Whether the India and Pakistan players will shake hands after the Asian Games cricket final has become one of the most debated questions around the gold medal match in Japan.
The issue goes back to the cross-border tensions and military developments, including Operation Sindoor, that have shaped relations between the two countries. Since then, Indian cricket squads have followed a firm no-handshake policy against Pakistani teams in recent ICC and ACC tournament fixtures, a stance that is understood to be in line with the government’s position.
The Asian Games, however, are a different kind of event. They operate under the charter of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC), rather than the bilateral or cricket-only structures that governed earlier matches.
No sporting code legally requires a handshake, as it is simply a customary sign of sportsmanship, but multi-sport events generally expect neutral and respectful conduct between rival competitors.
Indian players in table tennis, squash, volleyball and hockey have all exchanged the usual handshakes with their Pakistani opponents after matches, and none of those occasions led to any controversy. That contrast has put the cricket team under the scanner, since it is now the only squad where the question remains open.
Who will decide India’s handshake stance in the cricket final?
The final call is expected to rest with BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia and the other senior Indian officials present in Japan. They will have to choose whether the team continues with the hardline approach seen in earlier tournaments or follows the conventions that apply at a multi-sport Games.
Whatever happens on the field after the 20 overs are completed, one thing is certain. Under OCA medal ceremony protocol, both teams must stand together on the presentation podium, so the two sides cannot avoid each other entirely. T
The same arrangement was followed in the women’s event, when India and Pakistan appeared on the dais together, with Sri Lanka alongside them.
MORE: India vs Pakistan in tournament finals: Matches, wins, losses and results
Live updates: Did India and Pakistan players shake hands during the Asian Games Men’s cricket final
- Shreyas Iyer calls correctly and wastes no time, opting to set a target on what appears to be a dry, high-pressure surface for the final.
- In keeping with recent cross-border protocol, there is no formal handshake between the opposing captains after the coin drops. However, Iyer and Farhan exchange warm smiles and mutual nods, keeping the contest strictly about cricket.
- The match ends as India win the gold medal again. As it seemed from the broadcast, the players did not shake hands at the end of the game.
- Former BCCI chief and current ICC chairman Jay Shah presents the medal to the Indian team.
Where to watch the India vs Pakistan Asian Games final in India
TV channel: Sony Sports Network
Live streaming: SonyLIV
Sony Sports Network holds the exclusive broadcast rights for the Asian Games 2026 in India, with the final carried across its channels and streamed live on SonyLIV.
MORE: Will Naqvi attend the medal presentation at IND vs PAK Asian Games 2026 cricket final?
Where to watch the India vs Pakistan Asian Games final in Pakistan
TV channel: PTV Sports
Live streaming: PTV digital platforms
PTV Sports is the official broadcaster of the Asian Games in Pakistan, with coverage also available through PTV’s own digital platforms.
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.
About the Author
