The Pakistan Cricket Board has released a promotional video for the upcoming Pakistan–Australia T20 series that appears to take a subtle dig at India over the recent no-handshake controversy.
The promo focuses on Pakistan’s hospitality and deep connection with cricket. In one scene, an Australian tourist rides in a taxi where the driver refuses to accept payment and instead thanks the guest.
However, as the Australian steps out of the cab without offering a handshake, the driver humorously remarks, “Handshake bhool gaye aap, lagta hai padosiyo ke paas bhi ruke the” (“You forgot the handshake, looks like you even stopped by the neighbors”).
The scene is widely viewed as a reference to India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players during the ACC Asia Cup 2025. The move was later repeated by India’s women’s and junior teams in their respective fixtures against Pakistan.
India’s decision to avoid handshakes with Pakistani players sparked significant attention and debate at the time, and the PCB’s latest promo suggests the incident has not been forgotten yet.
Another character in the video, Agha Ji, reinforces the message by saying that Pakistanis are generally hospitable, but when it comes to cricket, they are always ready to compete.
The promo sets the stage for the upcoming three-match T20 series between Pakistan and Australia, which begins on January 29. The second and third matches will be played on January 31 and February 1, with all three games scheduled to take place in Lahore.