On Sunday, India hammered Pakistan to clinch victory by 90 runs in the U-19 Asia Cup. All around, Chauhan, along with Aarong George, stepped up in the big show and gave India a comfortable win. The BCCI allowed the Indian youth team to uphold their no-handshake policy against Pakistan. The policy persists as the BCCI declined the ICC’s appeal to keep politics out of junior cricket. Coming into the match the both teams were high with confidence as India defeated the UAE by 234 runs, while Pakistan won their opener against Malaysia by 277 runs.
All-round performance helped to give a promising win
Batting first, India put 240 runs on the board. Ayush Mahatre, the captain of the team, contributed with 38 runs, but he failed to convert his good start. The 14-year-old prodigy of India, Vaibhav Suryabhanshi, went to the pavilion by scoring just 5 runs. Aaron George, who also hit a fifty in the last match, helped India to hold their breath as he played a brilliant innings of 85 runs and built a solid partnership of 60 runs with wicket-keeper Abhigyan Kundu.
After his departure, Kanishk Chauhan played a fighting 46-run innings and helped India reach 240 runs in 46.1 overs.
In the second innings, Pakistan remained unable to form a partnership as Indian bowlers broke the backbone of the batting line-up at some point of the game. Pakistan was standing with 30 runs, losing 4 wickets. From them, Huazaifa Ahsan showed a solid temperament, making 70 runs in 83 balls, almost half of the team’s total.
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For India, Kanishk Chauhan stood tall in bowling. The right-arm off-spinner took three wickets with an economy of 3.30 in 10 overs. Deepesh Devandran also showed his fury, taking three wickets by conceding just 16 runs in 7 overs.
Kanishk Chauhan was awarded Man of the Match for his all-round performance.
ICC’s request to BCCI
Before the match, PTI reported that the ICC was eager to exclude politics from U-19 cricket and urged India to reconsider its no-handshake stance. This policy was first enforced in September during the senior Asia Cup in the same city, as a show of solidarity with the Indian Army and the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack. Though it was not enforced on the BCCI and also mentioned that if they don’t want to shake hands, then the match referee must be informed in advance.
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In reply, BCCI denied ICC’s request and continued their no handshake policy, just like the Men’s Asia Cup, Women’s World Cup and in the Rising Asia Cup tournament.
