 "Mohsin Naqvi has said PCB will file an official complaint against India. Image: AP")
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to file an official complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC) against India over what it has termed unsportsmanlike behaviour during the recently concluded Under-19 Asia Cup. The development was confirmed by PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi while speaking to the media in Lahore.
According to APP, Naqvi addressed a press conference at the Gaddafi Stadium, where he said the PCB has taken serious note of the conduct of the Indian U19 team, especially their refusal to shake hands with Pakistan players after the final. He said such actions go against the spirit of cricket and added that the board is in the process of formally raising the issue with the ICC.
Naqvi says Pakistan wishes to keep cricket and politics apart
Pakistan defeated India by a big margin in the U19 Asia Cup final played in Dubai on December 21. Naqvi said Pakistan believes in keeping cricket and politics separate, as advised by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. However, he made it clear that Pakistan would not accept unequal treatment.
“PCB wishes to keep cricket and politics apart under the instructions of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif,” he was quoted as saying by APP. Earlier, the Times of India had reported PCB’s plans to file an official complaint with the ICC regarding Indian players’ behaviour.
The issue has its roots in on-field tension during the final, where verbal exchanges took place between players from both sides. Former Pakistan captain and current U19 team mentor Sarfaraz Ahmed later criticised the behaviour of some Indian players, saying their gestures crossed the line.
Tensions further escalated after the match when Indian players reportedly skipped the customary handshake and collected their runners-up medals without acknowledging PCB and ACC chief Naqvi. This incident followed a similar no-handshake stance taken by the Indian senior team against Pakistan in earlier multi-nation tournaments.
The strained relations between the two teams have continued since recent political tensions between the countries, with handshakes being avoided in several ICC and ACC events. With India and Pakistan set to meet again in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cup 2026, it will be interesting to see if the issue gets resolved.