Handshake controversy has returned ahead of IND vs PAK T20 World Cup clash, as captains Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Agha gave evasive responses to questions on shaking hands during the match.
File photo/ANI
India and Pakistan are all set to clash in their ICC T20 World Cup 2026 group match at R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka on Sunday. The match between two arch-rivals is considered the biggest rivalry in the game of cricket, largely due to the political tensions between the countries.
A handshake controversy had erupted when they last played each other in the Asia Cup 2025 after the Indian team refused to shake hands with Pakistani players. Ahead of their T20 World Cup encounter, the handshake controversy is once again in focus.
Advertisement
However, when asked about it, both Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and his Pakistani counterpart Salman Agha gave evasive answers.
Advertisement
“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,” Suryakumar Yadav told reporters when asked if the Indian team would shake hands with Pakistani players.
Pakistani skipper Salman Agha also gave a cryptic response when asked a similar question during the pre-match presser. “We will see about it tomorrow,” he said.
However, Agha emphasised that the game of cricket must be played in the right spirit and put the onus back on the Indian team.
“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,” the Pakistani skipper added.
On the match front, India enjoys a 7-1 lead over Pakistan in T20 World Cups. The Indian team has also won its last eight matches against Pakistan across all formats.
Advertisement
