The India A team, led by Jitesh Sharma, skipped handshakes with their Pakistan counterparts at the beginning of their group stage game at the Rising Stars Asia Cup, continuing a tradition where Indian and Pakistan cricket teams have let go of customary pleasantries over the last two months.

Both team went their separate ways after the national anthems. Pakistan Shaheens, led by Irfan Khan, won the toss and opted to field first.

Two months ago at the Asia Cup , India’s T20I skipper Suryakumar Yadav avoided a handshake with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha as a gesture of solidarity with the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack.

The attack, which took place in April, killed 26 people and led to a cross-border skirmish between India and Pakistan. Since then, the two countries haven’t lo

See Full Page