Pakistan players Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq reportedly waited to shake hands with the Indian team after their defeat in the Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. India beat Pakistan by 61 runs in a Group A match on Sunday, February 15, extending their dominance over their arch-rivals of late.
While the match grabbed headlines due to India’s outstanding performance on the field, the team’s continued “no shaking hands” policy against Pakistan was evident during the match as captain. Suryakumar Yadav maintained the status quo with his Pakistani counterpart Salman Ali Agha during the throw. Even at the end of the match, the Indian players did not engage in the customary handshake with their opponents after their resounding victory.
However, the video of the match shows Pakistan’s latest batting pair Usman Tariq and Shaheen Afridi reportedly waiting for the Indian players to go to them for a post-match custom. In the viral clip, the two players can be seen turning towards their Indian counterparts who were busy congratulating each other on the win.
The couple from Pakistan waited a few seconds before finally making their way back to the pavilion. India Today could not verify whether the Pakistani players were specifically waiting for a handshake or whether they stopped for another reason.
What is India’s no handshake policy?
India maintains a no-handshake policy with Pakistan from the 2025 Asia Cup in all age groups in both men’s and women’s cricket. The move came in the wake of the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 civilians, and the subsequent Operation Sindoor by the Indian armed forces.
However, the no-handshake policy is limited to cricket and kabaddi as the two nations continue a long-standing sporting custom. in other disciplines such as hockey and tennis.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 17, 2026