The India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 match is just a few hours away. Both the teams are gearing up for the blockbuster encounter after weeks of drama which emanated from the Pakistan camp as they decided to boycott the game against their arch-rivals. The match will eventually take place at its scheduled time, 7 PM, in Colombo.
Ahead of the match, as things are developing, reports coming from the Indian Express indicate that Suryakumar Yadav and his men will not be shaking hands with Pakistan players and support staff. They maintain their stance of not joining hands with their arch rivals.
Handshake controversy will continue in India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup match
To show their support towards the Indians lost during the Pahalgam terror attack, the Men in Blue made their debut in the Asia Cup 2025.
Your daily dose of cricket!
Despite rumors that the handshake issue has been resolved, he remains firm on his statement of not shaking hands. Although Pakistan put forth its demand to resume the handshake during the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting, there was no confirmation from the apex body.
As per the current situation, the rift between the two countries has not been resolved yet. Things turned from bad to worse after Pakistan refused to play the World Cup match, as they had to change their decision and play the game. The issue of not shaking hands was an issue throughout the Asia Cup last year.
After their victory in the final, Suryakumar Yadav’s team refused to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, the head of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Interior Minister of the Government of Pakistan. The Men in Blue are still waiting for the Asia Cup trophy, which Naqvi took away with him.
Mohsin Naqvi’s attempt to shake hands failed
There were rumors that the handshake issue may be over, as Naqvi said, given the broader political developments involved and the strategy Pakistan is trying to resolve the issue. During the pre-match press conference, the captains of both the teams, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Aga respectively, were asked about the handshake.
In response, Surya told the journalist, “You will see in 24 hours. Wait for 24 hours. Eat well, sleep well, we will see tomorrow.” While his counterpart said, “We will see it tomorrow.” Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticized India on this issue and called it a foolish act.
Sanjay Manjrekar criticized India on the issue of not shaking hands
This ‘no handshake’ is such a stupid thing that India has started, he said via X (formerly Twitter). This is unbecoming of a nation like ours. “Either play well in the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.”
In such a situation, clouds of crisis are looming over the main match, because the threat of rain is looming. Rain and storm are predicted, which may lead to a delayed start and a start-stop match. Fans will be hoping to see a full game, as the game has always yielded great moments.
Also read: Rohit Sharma in Sri Lanka for IND vs PAK match? India Great’s airport video takes the internet by storm
