All posts tagged: cricket diplomacy.

‘I wasn’t desperate to shake hands either’: Salman Ali Agha on handshake snub | Cricket News

‘I wasn’t desperate to shake hands either’: Salman Ali Agha on handshake snub | Cricket News

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2 min readMay 2, 2026 09:48 PM IST Opening up about the handshake snub from India captain Suryakumar Yadav at last year’s Asia Cup, Pakistan T20 captain Salman Ali Agha has said that he was warned before the toss by match referee Andy Pycroft about Yadav’s intention of not shaking hands with him. Agha also said that he was initially surprised at the move since he claimed Yadav had shook his hands at a photoshoot event before the tournament started. “Before the tournament, a press conference was held, during which a handshake took place. During the trophy photoshoot, we shook hands as well. So, when I went for the toss, I was completely normal. Of course, I had an idea that things wouldn’t be as normal, but I didn’t think it would escalate to the point where there would be no handshake. I didn’t expect that,” Agha said on the ARY podcast. “I went for the toss with the Pakistan team media manager. The match referee took me aside and told me, ‘They are going …

BCB reaches out to BCCI to enhance bilateral cricket ties after T20 World Cup pullout | Cricket News

BCB reaches out to BCCI to enhance bilateral cricket ties after T20 World Cup pullout | Cricket News

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3 min readApr 4, 2026 04:21 PM IST A few days after Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Arun Dhumal called Mustafizur Rahman’s ouster from the league ‘unfortunate’, the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to try and explore more cooperation in cricket between the two Asian countries. The Director (Cricket Operations) of the BCB, Nazmul Abedin Fahim, said that the board had recently sent an email to the BCCI and also stayed in constant touch with other boards globally. “We maintain regular communication with various countries’ cricket boards. As part of that regular communication, we recently reached out to the Board of Control for Cricket in India via a letter, through an email, to communicate with them”, Fahim told ANI. In the letter, the BCB mentioned that India’s men’s team was scheduled to tour Bangladesh in September this year, and the women’s team was expected to travel after that, further indicating a thaw in cricketing relations between the subcontinental neighbours. “In the letter, we mentioned …

‘Nafrat faila rahe hain’: Saqlain Mushtaq lashes out at ex-India cricketers ahead of IND vs PAK clash | Cricket News

‘Nafrat faila rahe hain’: Saqlain Mushtaq lashes out at ex-India cricketers ahead of IND vs PAK clash | Cricket News

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3 min readFeb 10, 2026 11:27 AM IST Ex-Pakistan cricketer Saqlain Mushtaq has accused former India cricketers of spreading hatred with their words in a withering criticism of his counterparts across the border. Saqlain’s comments came on a day when the India vs Pakistan game was back on the calendar again after many weeks of uncertainty. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) finally relented after hectic negotiations with the ICC on Monday evening and asked its cricket team to play India in Colombo on Sunday. India Pakistan Match News Live Updates “Recently, an ex-cricketer—I won’t name him because it doesn’t feel right—was asked about Pakistan talking about their integrity and respect. He replied, ‘Look, before I speak, those who have no respect to begin with, how can they talk about respect?’ I mean, use some common sense! What kind of narrow-minded things are you saying? You are an ex-cricketer. Players are supposed to be heroes and stars, and stars shine for everyone. Heroes belong to everyone. At least try to act like a hero!” Saqlain said …

‘Opt out of the entire tournament’

‘Opt out of the entire tournament’

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3 min readUpdated: Feb 9, 2026 11:34 PM IST Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar has slammed Pakistan for throwing tantrums by deciding not to play against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 match scheduled for February 15. Gavaskar suggested Pakistan should forfeit the entire T20 World Cup, and not just the India game if they felt hard done by the ICC. “If they felt Bangladesh had been hard done by by the ICC, they should have opted out of the entire tournament, and not just the match against India,” Gavaskar wrote in his column for Sportstar. “With the political situation in Bangladesh in massive churn, and with general elections due in a few days, Pakistan saw a chance to cosy up to Bangladesh. Their government instructed their team to play the tournament, but not play against India. It was baffling,” he added. ALSO READ | T20 World Cup: Chances of India-Pakistan game going ahead brighten as Bangladesh ask PCB to end boycott threat Pakistan had stated that they will not take the field against …

Chances of India-Pakistan game going ahead brighten as Bangladesh ask PCB to end boycott threat

Chances of India-Pakistan game going ahead brighten as Bangladesh ask PCB to end boycott threat

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In light of the latest developments, prospects of the money-spinning fixture going ahead as scheduled brightened. Bangladesh, which had a role in the origin of the impasse when it refused to send its team to India citing security concerns, requested the PCB — which had shown solidarity with Bangladesh for their ouster from the tournament — to play the February 15 match “for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem”. “Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday (Sunday) and given the forthcoming outcomes of our discussions, I request Pakistan to play the ICC T20 World Cup game on 15 February against India for the benefit of the entire cricket ecosystem,” BCB president Aminul Islam said. “We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish,” the former Bangladesh captain added. ALSO READ | Bangladesh urge Pakistan to play against India in T20 World Cup ‘for benefit of cricket ecosystem’ While the BCB asked PCB not to boycott the game against India, a …

Bangladesh urges Pakistan to play against India in T20 World Cup ‘for benefit of cricket ecosystem’

Bangladesh urges Pakistan to play against India in T20 World Cup ‘for benefit of cricket ecosystem’

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3 min readFeb 9, 2026 10:34 PM IST A new layer of drama unfolded concerning the Pakistan vs India T20 World Cup 2026 match late on Monday when the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) issued a press release, requesting that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) proceed with its scheduled World Cup fixture against India on February 15. The BCB’s statement read: “The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) extends its sincere appreciation to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the International Cricket Council (ICC), and all involved for their positive roles in trying to overcome recent challenges. In particular, the BCB wishes to express its profound and heartfelt gratitude to PCB Chairman Mohsin Raza Naqvi, his Board, and the cricket fans of Pakistan. Throughout this period, the PCB has demonstrated exemplary sportsmanship and solidarity.” It added: “BCB President Md. Aminul Islam said: ‘We are deeply moved by Pakistan’s efforts to go above and beyond in supporting Bangladesh during this period. Long may our brotherhood flourish. Following my short visit to Pakistan yesterday and given the forthcoming outcomes of our …

When Team India visited Pakistan in 2004, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee told players: ‘Dil jeetke aana’

When Team India visited Pakistan in 2004, PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee told players: ‘Dil jeetke aana’

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India vs Pakistan: Pakistan are the hosts of the ongoing Champions Trophy tournament in what is the country’s first major ICC event since 1996, when it co-hosted the Cricket World Cup with India and Sri Lanka. While seven of the eight teams will play their games in Pakistan, India will play all their games in Dubai after refusing to travel to Pakistan for security and political reasons. The two teams have ceased bilateral cricket ties since the Mumbai terror attacks. The Indian team has not visited Pakistan since 2008, when the Asia Cup was held there. Pakistan last hosted the Indian cricket team for a bilateral series in 2006. India’s refusal to visit Pakistan brings back memories of the rare visits that the Indian team made to Pakistan, especially the tour of 2004. The tour of 2004 was a unique one, because India had not visited the neighbouring country for over a decade. There was also tension between the two nations over the Kargil War of 1999. The Indian team that went to Pakistan for …

How have India-Pakistan ties in trade, tourism and cricket fared over the years? – India TV

How have India-Pakistan ties in trade, tourism and cricket fared over the years? – India TV

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Image Source : PTI Representational Image Pakistan is ready to host the 23rd edition of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit on Tuesday and Wednesday, with senior leaders from its all-weather friend China and its arch-rival India attending amid strict security measures. Foreign delegations have started to reach Pakistan to attend the mega event under the shadow of increased terror attacks and protests by jailed former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s party. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is set to attend the SCO Summit, where he will lead the Indian delegation and likely raise India’s concerns related to cross-border terrorism. The minister has already clarified that there will be no discussions on India-Pakistan relations, and his visit is expected to be a short one. Jaishankar’s visit to Pakistan is the first by an Indian EAM in nine years after his predecessor Sushma Swaraj in 2015. Relations between India and Pakistan remain strained, to put it lightly, as tensions over Kashmir, Article 370 and terrorism have dominated the ties between the two neighbouring countries. The upcoming SCO …