New Delhi: Team India skipper Suryakumar Yadav refused to reveal if he and his team are ready to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in the upcoming
clash between the two sides in the T20 World Cup 2026. India and Pakistan are set to lock horns in a marquee group-stage clash at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, February 15.
Ahead of the much-anticipated clash, there is suspense over whether Indian players will shake hands with Pakistani players during the game. Indian players have not taken part in the customary handshake routine against Pakistan since the Asia Cup last year, in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor conducted by the Indian armed forces in Pakistan.
Indian players refused to shake hands with Pakistani players and their support staff in all three matches that the two teams played against each other in the tournament. The handshake boycott continued in the final, where the Indian team refused to accept the trophy from the ACC and the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi after beating Pakistan.
When asked whether India’s handshake boycott stance against Pakistan will continue during the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, Suryakumar remained tight-lipped. The Indian skipper said everyone will get to see their stance in the next 24 hours when the two teams square off at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
“Wait for 24 hours. Leave it for tomorrow. Sleep well tonight and see what happens,” Yadav told reporters in the pre-match press conference in Colombo on Saturday.
More to follow…
