Suryakumar Yadav & India officially reject handshakes with Pakistan players in T20 World Cup 2026

The India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup 2026 clash is just a few hours away. The two teams have geared up for the blockbuster clash after weeks of drama, which arose from the Pakistan camp as they decided to boycott the game against their arch-rivals. The match will finally take place on its scheduled time, 7 PM IST, in Colombo.

Ahead of the match, as things have been developing, reports coming from the Indian Express indicate that Suryakumar Yadav and his men will not be shaking hands with the Pakistan players and the support staff. They keep their stand point of not shaking hands with their arch-rivals.

Handshake row to continue in the India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup showdown

The Men in Blue started this back in the Asia Cup 2025, to showcase their support for the lost lives of Indians during the Pahalgam terror attack.

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They continue to stand on their point of not shaking hands despite rumours that the issue of the handshakes will be solved. Though Pakistan kept this as their demand during the International Cricket Council (ICC) meeting to resume the handshakes, no confirmation was provided from the side of the apex body.

As things stands the rift between the two nations has not been solved yet. Things have gone from bad to worse after Pakistan denied playing the World Cup match, as they had to reverse their decision and play the game. The non-handshake thing was an issue during the whole Asia Cup last year.

Following their victory in the final, Suryakumar Yadav's side refused to accept the Asia Cup Trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) head and Pakistan government's interior minister, Mohsin Naqvi. The Men in Blue are still waiting for the Asia Cup trophy, which Naqvi took away with him.

Mohsin Naqvi's handshake attempts fail

There were rumours that the handshake issue might be over, as Naqvi, given the developments showcased to the broader politics involved, and the strategy Pakistan was trying to solve the issue. Both team captains, Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha was asked respectively about the handshake things during the pre-match press conference.

Surya, in reply, said to the journalist, “You will see in 24 hours. Wait for 24 hours. Eat well, sleep well, we will see tomorrow.” While his counterpart said, “We will see it tomorrow.” Former cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar slammed India for this issue, calling it a silly act.

Sanjay Manjrekar slams India for the no-handshake issue

He via X (formerly Twitter) said, 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.”

The key match has been looming under the conditions, as there is a rain threat. There is a prediction of rain and thunderstorms, which might get a delayed start, and there might be a start-stop match. Fans will expect a full game to witness, as the game has always earned the best moments.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma in Sri Lanka for IND vs PAK clash? India great’s airport video breaks the internet