India, Sept. 13 -- Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana refused to shake hands with India counterpart Harmanpreet Kaur after the toss during their Women's Asia Cup 2026 semi-final in Dubai. The reason remains unclear, with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) distancing itself from the incident and saying it was her own decision.

Since September last year, India and Pakistan cricketers have refused to shake hands, amid heightened political tensions between the two countries following the Pahalgam terror attack. But, seemingly unexpectedly, Sultana did the same against India in the semi-final last Thursday.

"Of course, it was her own decision (not to shake hands with Harmanpreet)," said Rafiqul Islam Babu, Bangladesh Cricket Board's women's co...