The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has taken a subtle dig at the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) over India’s refusal to shake hands during matches between the two arch-rivals, a stance that has remained firm across formats and age groups. During the Asia Cup 2025, the Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side avoided all pre- and post-match courtesies in their three encounters against Pakistan.
This approach wasn’t limited to the senior men’s team either, as India’s women’s and youth teams followed the same protocol in their respective fixtures against Pakistan, underlining a consistent and deliberate position.
With the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 drawing closer, the PCB has revisited the topic in a promotional video released ahead of Pakistan’s upcoming home T20I series against Australia. While the video largely focuses on Pakistan’s hospitality and vibrant cricket culture, it includes a pointed, tongue-in-cheek reference aimed squarely at India.
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In one scene that has quickly gone viral on social media, an Australian tourist fails to shake a taxi driver’s hand. The driver then remarks in Urdu, “shayad padosi ke paas bhi rukhe the aap” (perhaps you also stopped by our neighbours), a line widely interpreted as a sarcastic jibe at India’s no-handshake policy.
“Handshake bhool gaye aap lagta hai ,padosiyon ke paas bhi rukay thay aap”
PCB ABSOLUTELY COOKED INDIA IN THE PROMO FOR AUSTRALIA’S TOUR OF PAKISTAN 😂🔥
That’s some content 👌pic.twitter.com/SaQWmCHVkG
— junaiz (@dhillow_) January 21, 2026
The promotional clip also features Pakistan’s T20I captain Salman Ali Agha and is being viewed as a calculated messaging move rather than a coincidence. India’s decision to avoid on-field pleasantries with Pakistan has been in place since the terrorist attack in Pahalgam earlier in 2025, after which diplomatic and sporting sensitivities intensified.
India and Pakistan are scheduled to face each other on February 15 in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, a fixture that will inevitably attract massive global attention both on and off the field.
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Meanwhile, Pakistan will host Australia for a three-match T20I series at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium. The series begins on January 29, followed by matches on January 31 and February 1, serving as a key build-up for Pakistan ahead of the World Cup.
