Handshake would once again be the trending keyword as India and Pakistan come up against each other with another controversial backdrop on Sunday (February 15). This time it’s in the group stage of the 2026 men’s T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
The last time these two sides met was in the 2025 Asia Cup, with one drama or the other in each of the three matches. The tone was set in the first itself, when the Indian team refused to shake hands with the Pakistanis, both at the toss and after the match. The decision was said to have been made by the BCCI in concert with the team, in light of the Pahalgam terror attack, which India had blamed on Pakistani infiltrators.
Handshakes were snubbed for all three matches, and the new normal spilled
into age-group matches as well as other sporting contests.
“We will see about it tomorrow,” Pakistan captain Salman Agha said when asked about the plan for Sunday in the pre-match press conference.
“Cricket should be played in (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,” Agha added, suggesting his team would be open to it if India wants it.
Meanwhile, a PTI report claimed that the mood in the Indian camp ahead of the match has been measured rather than ‘bullish’, with players leaving the final call to senior officials. There is also caution within the team about strong public sentiment on social media, as emotions remain raw.
This India-Pakistan match would be watched more closely than ever because it almost didn’t happen. The Pakistani government had ordered the team to boycott this match as a mark of protest for the ICC ejecting Bangladesh out of the roster, and the decision was reversed only a few days ago.
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