No handshakes at toss: India’s stand against Pakistan in T20 World Cup continues despite calls for ‘spirit’ Cricket News

New Delhi: Captain India Suryakumar Yadav and Pakistan Captain Salman Ali Agha did not shake hands during the T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo on Sunday, continuing India’s no-handshake policy against Pakistan.After the ball was bowled, the usual hand gestures disappeared, continuing a stance that has existed in both men’s and women’s cricket since the 2025 Asia Cup.Agha won the toss and was selected to play in Group A, which was only confirmed to go ahead six days ago when the Pakistani government reversed course on its threat to boycott the match.Follow the live broadcastNeither Suriya nor Salman committed to a handshake, and with the Pakistan captain saying he wanted to “preserve” the spirit of cricket, maintaining the status quo was a no-brainer.Also read: Sanjay Manjrekar speaks out about India’s ‘stupid’ handshake policy with PakistanBefore the match, Suryakumar refused to clarify his stance at the pre-match press conference. “Wait 24 hours. We are here to play cricket. Eat well and sleep well,” he said on Saturday.Pakistan skipper Agha said Pakistan was open to the gesture and the decision rested with India. “Cricket should be played in the right spirit. My personal opinion may not matter but cricket should be played the way it has always been played. It is up to them to decide what to do,” he said.Suryakumar refused to shake hands with the Pakistan captain during the Asia Cup, sparking a reaction from Pakistan. They briefly considered boycotting the next game of the tournament before deciding to go ahead. The no-handshake policy remains in effect for the next two games.Earlier in the day, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar criticized India’s no-handshake policy towards Pakistan, calling it “stupid” and saying it was not good for a major cricketing nation.Manjrekar wrote on hisSunday’s developments confirmed that the approach for the T20 World Cup remains unchanged.