KEY POINTS
- India set to continue ‘no-handshake’ policy against Pakistan, extending controversial trend since 2025 Asia Cup
- Sanjay Manjrekar slams stance as ‘silly’ and ‘unbecoming’ urging India to prioritise cricket’s spirit over politics
- Suryakumar Yadav plays coy “Wait 24 hours” while Salman Ali Agha keeps door open for traditional gesture
- Controversy has spanned senior, women’s, and age-level cricket, including 2025 Asia Cup trophy ceremony snub
ISLAMABAD: The mother of all cricket rivalries is set to resume here at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, but the focus ahead of the high-voltage T20 World Cup group match has shifted from bat-and-ball to a matter of protocol: the fate of the customary post-match handshake.
Amidst enduring political tensions, the Indian cricket team is reportedly set to maintain its contentious ‘no-handshake’ policy against Pakistan, a stance that has drawn sharp criticism from former cricketers and threatens to overshadow the on-field action.
The decision, confirmed by sources to The Indian Express, means Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav is unlikely to extend his hand to his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Ali Agha, at the toss or after the game. This continues a trend that has defined encounters between the arch-rivals since last year’s ACC Men’s Asia Cup in Dubai.
A tradition broken
The absence of the customary post-match handshake has become a recurring theme since the Asia Cup 2025. The issue first drew widespread attention during the group-stage clash when Suryakumar Yadav did not greet Salman Ali Agha at the toss. After India sealed victory, Suryakumar and teammate Shivam Dube walked back to the pavilion immediately after scoring the winning runs, leaving Pakistani players waiting on the field in disbelief.
The cold-shouldered approach persisted through the Super Four stage and the final. In a further controversial move, the Indian team refrained from receiving the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as Chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and President of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Indian team is still awaiting that trophy after Naqvi took it with him following the ceremony.
The practice has not been limited to the senior men’s team. Similar scenes were witnessed during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, the ACC Under-19 Asia Cup, and most recently, the ICC Under-19 Men’s Cricket World Cup 2026, where captains Ayush Mhatre and Farhan Yousaf also avoided shaking hands.
Manjrekar slams ‘silly’ stance
The policy has found a powerful critic in former Indian batsman turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar. Taking to social media platform X, Manjrekar expressed concern over what he termed an unbecoming trend that contradicts cricket’s long-standing traditions of sportsmanship.
This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 15, 2026
“This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all,” he wrote.
Manjrekar’s strong words have added fuel to the debate, urging the team to honour the game’s spirit over political posturing.
Captains play cat and mouse
In the lead-up to the match, both captains have been quizzed extensively about the potential for a thaw in relations, keeping fans and media guessing. When asked if the handshake would return, Suryakumar Yadav maintained a playful but firm silence.
“Wait for 24 hours. Eat well, sleep well, we will see tomorrow,” he quipped at the pre-match press conference.
Salman Ali Agha, on the other hand, struck a conciliatory tone, suggesting his side would not shy away from the traditional gesture. “Cricket should be played in the right spirit. My personal opinion may not matter, but cricket should be played the way it has always been played. It’s up to them to decide what to do,” Agha stated, placing the onus firmly on the Indian team.
Eyes on the toss
Despite the diplomatic freeze, both teams arrive in peak form, having won their opening two games. While the cricket world anticipates a thrilling contest between two unbeaten sides, the first indication of the match’s unique temperament will be seen not with the first ball, but at the toss when the two captains meet. As the R. Premadasa Stadium prepares for a capacity crowd, the world will be watching to see if a simple handshake can bridge a divide that politics has made seemingly insurmountable.
Pitch Report: Grass-top deck favours batters
The match will be played on the same surface used for Australia vs Zimbabwe. A touch of grass suggests a flatter deck than usual, offering true bounce for stroke-makers. Pacers may get early movement before spinners take over mid-innings. With the team batting first winning all three previous matches at this venue, captains will likely opt to bat first.
Team preparations: Contrasting fortunes
India arrived late Friday night with just one practice session, limiting acclimatisation time. Pakistan, despite not travelling during the tournament, haven’t played at Premadasa yet, both wins came at SSC. Both teams will therefore debut at this venue.
Head-to-head: India’s World Cup dominance
India leads Pakistan 7-1 in T20 World Cup meetings, the sole defeat being the 2021 ten-wicket loss. Overall T20I record also favours India (12 wins, Pakistan 3, one tied). Pakistan’s Asia Cup improvement suggests a potential resurgence.
The bigger picture
Victory virtually guarantees Super Eight qualification for the winner. Amidst the ‘no-handshake’ controversy, all eyes remain on the sky, prayers may prove as crucial as performances.
Based on Weather.com forecasts, there is a 35 to 40 percent likelihood of precipitation till the match starts and 6:30pm PST, with conditions anticipated to clear up afterward. The probability drops to four percent an hour later. If these predictions hold, spectators can look forward to an uninterrupted match.
Pakistan Squad: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Babar Azam, Fakhar Zaman, Sahibzada Farhan, Khawaja Nafay, Usman Khan, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Faheem Ashraf, Salman Mirza, Abrar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Usman Tariq, Saim Ayub
India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Axar Patel (vice-captain), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Washington Sundar
