Will India and Pakistan Players Shake Hands in Asian Games Gold Medal Match?

The high-profile Asian Games men's cricket final between India and Pakistan will be played on October 3 at the Korogi Sports Park, Nisshin. Ever since this game was confirmed, there has been a sense of excitement amongst the cricket fans.

Lately, the matches involving these two nations have not just revolved around cricket. The cross-border tensions and the worsening political relations have had its effect on the India-Pakistan cricket matches as well.

While the focus will be mostly on cricket in the Asian Games final, it also remains to be seen whether players from both these sides shake hands or not. The IND vs PAK no handshake controversy is a part of every match involving these two countries, however, the upcoming match is a part of the Asian Games, which is different to the other cricket tournaments.

Will India and Pakistan Players Shake Hands in Asian Games Gold Medal Match?

Despite this match being a part of the Asian Games, the no handshake part is likely to be continued. It is unlikely for the Indian players to change their stance and shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts. Hence, it seems that there will be no handshake in Asian Games cricket final just like the recent India vs Pakistan matches in this sport.

Usually, there is a handshake between the captains at the toss. After the game, players from both sides usually shake hands as a gesture towards their opponents. This is unlikely to happen in the IND vs PAK Asian Games Gold Medal match.

Ever since the Asia Cup last year, Team India has refused to shake hands with Pakistani players on the ground, whether it is before or after the match. This has led to plenty of criticism for the Men in Blue, however, their stance remains unchanged.

When the BCCI was asked about the reason, it said that the decision was made with the Government of India's directive. The trend has since continued, not just in men's cricket, but also in women's and Under-19 cricket. The authorities will hope that there is no IND vs PAK Asian Games final controversy and the match is played in good spirits.

Is No Handshake Controversy In Other Sports?

The no handshake controversy is just seen in cricket with the players from both countries shaking hands with each other in other sports normally. Recently, in the Asian Games 2026, India and Pakistan players have come up against each other several times and they have shared customary handshakes every time.

Cricket is massively popular in both these countries, with both nations producing some of the best cricketers in the world over the years. While India will start as favorites, Pakistan will be hoping to pull off an upset on this big occasion.