ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi recently criticized the Indian cricket team’s ‘no handshake’ policy, saying Pakistani cricketers will also refrain from the friendly gesture if it continues.
The Indian cricket team refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in recent matches between the two teams. The policy made headlines around the world in September when the two sides met at the 2025 Asia Cup in three cricket matches, with the Indian team refusing to shake hands with members of the Pakistani team each time.
India’s new policy of not shaking hands with Pakistani cricketers comes months after the two nuclear-armed neighbors clashed in a four-day military conflict in May. Washington eventually intervened and achieved a ceasefire on May 10 after four days of conflict.
“If they don’t want to shake hands, then we don’t have any desire to,” Naqvi told reporters at a news conference on Sunday.
The PCB chairman, who is also Pakistan’s home minister, said cricket issues related to India would be dealt with on an “equal basis”.
“It’s not like they do one thing and we ask them in return,” Naqvi said. “That won’t happen.”
Pakistan U-19 team defeated India in a one-sided final of the Asian U-19 Cup tournament in Dubai this month.
The Pakistan men’s senior cricket team will take on India in Sri Lanka on February 15 in a group stage match of the 2026 ICC T20 World Cup.