India's No-Handshake Policy Stays Firm During T20 World Cup Match vs Pakistan: Report
The Indian cricket team players will not shake hands with the Pakistan players during the T20 World Cup group stage match in Colombo on Sunday, according to a report by The Indian Express. The report claims that India's 'no-handshake policy' towards Pakistan will remain unchanged, and it is unlikely that India captain Suryakumar Yadav will shake hands with his Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha, either during the toss or after the match. This stance is a continuation of India's decision not to shake hands with Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attacks at the Asia Cup 2025. Since then, Indian cricketers (both men and women) have avoided handshakes with Pakistani players in international competitions.
When asked about the handshake stance, India captain Suryakumar Yadav responded, "Now wait for 24 hours for that. Why put so much focus on that? We have come to play cricket. We will play good cricket. We will take all those calls later tomorrow. Wait for it. Eat well and go to sleep."
On the other hand, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said, "We will see about it tomorrow." Agha's response was cryptic, but he emphasized the importance of upholding the 'Spirit of the Game' in any circumstances. He stated, "Cricket should be played in the right spirit. My personal opinion may not matter, but cricket should be played according to how it has always been meant to be played. It's up to them to decide what to do."
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Cricket Board chief Aminul Islam Bulbul is expected to be in Colombo to watch the India-Pakistan match, where he will meet with BCCI representatives after recent tense exchanges. From India, BCCI president Mithun Manhas, secretary Devajit Saikia, and vice-president Rajeev Shukla are also expected to attend. According to Bangladesh newspaper 'Prothom Alo', Islam stated that the invitation for this high-profile game came from the ICC, with the aim of having representatives from all five Asian countries present at the ground, watch the match together, and talk to one another.
