India and Pakistan are once again facing off in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, but this time the discussion is more about the handshake than the match itself.
Will Team India shake hands with Pakistan this time, or will their stance remain the same? Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has finally broken his silence on this question.
Suspense grows before the match in Colombo
The India-Pakistan match will be played in Colombo on February 15th. When Suryakumar Yadav was asked in the pre-match press conference whether India would end its no-handshake policy this time, he avoided a direct answer, saying, “Wait for 24 hours. Eat well, sleep well, and we will see tomorrow.”
His response made it clear that the team still doesn’t want to comment openly on this issue. Last time, during the Asia Cup 2025, India refused to shake hands with Pakistan, which caused considerable controversy.
In fact, tensions between the two countries escalated significantly after the terrorist attacks in Operation Sindoor and Pehelgam during the Asia Cup. During that time, Team India also took a tough stance on the field.
Drama escalates due to PCB, ICC, and Bangladesh controversy
This match was not just a matter of discussion between the two teams, but also at the board level. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously indicated that they might refuse to take the field in support of Bangladesh.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) later called a meeting to try to control the situation.
The Bangladesh team refused to travel to India, citing security reasons, after which the ICC expelled them from the tournament. This decision led to a confrontation between the PCB and the ICC.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha was also asked the same question. He said, “We want the game to be played in good spirits. The game should be played like it has been played since it started. The toss cannot decide the game. If you play good cricket, you’ll win. Cricket will matter; the toss won’t.”
For now, all eyes are on this high-voltage match in Colombo. Whether there will be a handshake or not will only be clear on match day.
But one thing is certain: the cricketing excitement inside the field will be at its peak, and fans around the world are eagerly awaiting this match.
