Indian athletes competing at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow can decide for themselves whether to shake hands or exchange greetings with Pakistani athletes. However, Indian sports officials stated that athletes must not accept gifts or presents from their Pakistani counterparts during the event.
The decision comes ahead of several India-Pakistan contests at the Commonwealth Games. One of the biggest attractions will be the men's javelin throw showdown between Neeraj Chopra and Arshad Nadeem. In boxing, Jadumani Singh Mandengbam will take on Sumama Rehman in the men's quarterfinals.
Why Commonwealth Games Athletes Are Not Following Cricket's 'No-Handshake' Policy
The Commonwealth Games includes multiple sports managed by different national federations. According to The Times of India, Indian officials decided to leave the choice of shaking hands with Pakistani athletes to the individuals and their respective federations.
Athletes from different countries are staying in the same accommodation zones. Defending Commonwealth Games champion Arshad Nadeem and Indian Olympic champion Neeraj Chopra are staying in the same Zone 3 hotel before their much-anticipated javelin event.
Different sports have also taken different approaches. Lawn bowls officials told Indian players that handshakes, high-fives, and other on-field greetings with Pakistani opponents are acceptable.
Several other national federations have also confirmed that they have not received any official instructions banning such interactions. However, Indian athletes have been told not to accept gifts or presents from Pakistani athletes during the Games.
How India's 'No-Handshake' Policy with Pakistan Cricketers Began
India's sporting ties with Pakistan were strained after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. Following the incident, the Indian cricket team adopted a no-handshake policy with Pakistan players before and after matches across senior and age-group cricket.
The policy was first seen during the Asia Cup 2025 and has continued in ICC events, including the T20 World Cup and the Champions Trophy. While bilateral cricket between the two countries remains suspended, India and Pakistan still meet in multinational tournaments because of ICC and ACC schedules.
However, the policy is limited to cricket under the BCCI. Other Indian teams have followed their own guidelines. Junior hockey players from both countries exchanged high-fives after a Sultan of Johor Cup match, while the blind women's cricket teams also shook hands after their World Cup fixture.
India vs Pakistan Cricket Rivalry
The India-Pakistan rivalry is one of the biggest in world cricket. Since their first Test in 1952, the two teams have played 212 international matches across all formats. Pakistan holds a slight overall lead with 88 wins, while India has 81 victories. The remaining 43 matches ended in a draw or no result.
Pakistan also lead the head-to-head record in Tests (12-9) and ODIs (73-58), with 38 drawn Tests and five no-result ODIs. India have dominated the rivalry in T20 Internationals, winning 14 of the 17 matches played against Pakistan.
The Men in Blue have also enjoyed greater success in ICC tournaments. They are 8-0 against Pakistan in the Men's ODI World Cup and hold an 8-1 advantage in the Men's T20 World Cup. The two teams now meet only in ICC events and the Asia Cup.
The rivalry has produced many memorable moments, including Javed Miandad's last-ball six in 1986, Sachin Tendulkar's match-winning knock at Centurion in 2003, Virat Kohli's unbeaten 82 at the 2022 T20 World Cup, and India's triumph over Pakistan at the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Also read: Shah Rukh Khan's Knight Riders rope in Pakistani Usman Tariq for CPL 2026
