IND vs PAK : India Take Big Call On No-Handshake Policy
The Indian cricket team is expected to continue its policy of avoiding handshakes with Pakistan players during their highly anticipated group-stage encounter in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled for Sunday in Colombo. According to reliable sources , captain Suryakumar Yadav will not extend his hand to Pakistan skipper Salman Agha during the pre-match toss ceremony.
This decision maintains the approach adopted by the Indian side throughout the Asia Cup last year, when no handshakes occurred in any of the three matches against Pakistan following Operation Sindoor. Diplomatic and bilateral tensions between the two neighbouring countries, which escalated after hostilities in May last year, have shown no signs of easing, and this has increasingly influenced on-field protocols in bilateral cricket encounters.
The absence of the customary handshake has become a recurring topic of discussion whenever India and Pakistan face each other. During the Asia Cup final last year, the Indian team also declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chairman Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister. As a result, India is still waiting to take possession of the Asia Cup trophy, which Naqvi carried away after the match.
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In the lead-up to Sunday’s fixture, Suryakumar Yadav had been questioned about the handshake issue during a pre-match press conference. He chose not to reveal the team’s plans immediately, responding cryptically: “You will see in 24 hours.” He further remarked, “Wait for 24 hours. Eat well, sleep well, we will see tomorrow,” steering attention back to the contest itself.
Pakistan captain Salman Agha adopted a similar stance when asked about the possibility of a reciprocal gesture if India initiated a handshake. He replied simply, “We will see it tomorrow.”
The latest development comes amid a turbulent build-up to the T20 World Cup. The Pakistan Cricket Board had previously threatened to withdraw from the tournament after Bangladesh was replaced by Scotland in the lineup, accusing the Indian cricket board of exerting pressure on smaller nations. Although Pakistan later reversed its boycott decision, the underlying friction has persisted, making any change in the handshake stance unlikely.
Former India batsman and current commentator Sanjay Manjrekar criticised the ongoing practice on social media platform X, describing it as “such a silly thing that India has started.” He added, “It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.”
With both teams having secured victories in their opening two group matches, the focus now shifts entirely to the contest on the field. However, the continued absence of the traditional pre-match greeting underscores the broader challenges facing India-Pakistan cricket ties in the current climate.