Sanjay Manjrekar goes pro-Pakistan, blasts India over handshake boycott

India’s controversial “no handshake” stand against Pakistan has yet again returned to the headlines ahead of their T20 World Cup 2026 clash on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo. Ahead of the high-voltage Group C match, Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized India’s “no handshake” stand against Pakistan.

Sanjay Manjrekar slams India’s ‘No Handshake’ stand against Pakistan

The former Indian batter called the move unnecessary and questioned whether it suits a country like India. Sanjay Manjrekar boldly suggested India play Pakistan within the spirit of the game; otherwise, they should not face them at all in any tournament.

Read Also: When was the last India vs Pakistan World Cup match without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma?

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Sanjay Manjrekar posted on X before the India vs Pakistan match: “This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.”

This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.

— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 15, 2026

How the handshake row began

It all started during the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai, following Operation Sindoor, a response to the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025 carried out by the organisation based in Pakistan. The Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, skipped the usual pre-match and post-match handshakes with Pakistan. The decision shocked many fans and experts.

At that time, Suryakumar said that the move was a sign of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack as well as to show support for the Indian armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor.

The captain confirmed that the decision was in line with the Indian government and the BCCI. Apart from the men’s team, India’s women’s team and youth teams also followed the same stand in their matches against Pakistan.

Read Also: Sourav Ganguly laughs off Usman Tariq's hype, says he’s no threat to India

Uncertainty before T20 World Cup 2026

Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed official complaints with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). The PCB called the move against the spirit of cricket. It even demanded the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, claiming he instructed Pakistan not to shake hands at the toss at India’s request.

On the other side, the BCCI has remained firm. The Indian board has stated that a handshake is a goodwill gesture and not a compulsory rule under the ICC rulebook. Now, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo, both captains, Suryakumar and Salman Ali Agha, have avoided giving a clear answer on whether the ice will melt.

Usman Tariq becomes Pakistan’s surprise weapon

Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez believes the massive buzz around Usman Tariq is a big mental win for Pakistan against India. He also noted that Tariq has already created enough panic in the Indian camp, and that’s the big victory for them.

Mohammad Hafeez was quoted as saying by NDTV: “If we go inside the cricketing aspect, the hype created around Usman Tariq is another psychological victory for us. Right now, no one is talking about Babar Azam or any other player. People are talking only about Usman Tariq. He has played just one or two games for Pakistan, but just imagine the amount of panic he has created in the Indian camp. They are specifically practicing against him in their sessions.”