The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has released a promotional video for the upcoming Pakistan–Australia T20I series, which appears to subtly reference India over the recent no-handshake controversy.
The promo highlights Pakistan’s renowned hospitality and love for cricket. In one humorous scene, an Australian tourist rides a taxi where the driver refuses payment and instead thanks him.
When the tourist steps out of the cab without offering a handshake, the driver jokingly 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”).
This line is widely interpreted as a reference to India’s refusal to shake hands with Pakistani players during the ACC Asia Cup 2025, an incident that also occurred in India’s women’s and junior matches against Pakistan.
Promo Message
Another character in the video, Agha Ji, reinforces the message, stating that Pakistanis are generally hospitable, but when it comes to cricket, they are always ready to compete.
The promo sets the stage for the three-match T20 series between Pakistan and Australia, scheduled to begin on January 29 in Lahore, with the second and third matches on January 31 and February 1.
