South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has weighed in on the India-Pakistan handshake controversy, saying the optics of players not greeting each other on the field “doesn’t look good for the game of cricket”, while admitting he was not fully aware of the political context behind the decision.
Bavuma, part of the commentary panel for the T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, addressed the issue in an interview with PTI and made it clear that his view is based on how it appears to the outside world rather than the political reality between the two nations.
“Yeah, it doesn’t look good when you look at it from the outside. It doesn’t look good for the game of cricket. At the end of the day it’s a gentleman’s game, that’s what we’ve grown up with, a certain behavior that’s expected of us,” Bavuma said.
OUTSIDE VIEW, LIMITED CONTEXT
However, the 35-year-old was careful to stress that he did not claim to understand the political sensitivities behind the decision.
“But like I said, it’s from the outside. I’m not.” versed in India-Pakistan politics, so I can’t speak to that point of view. But as a viewer looking at it as it is, without the full context, it doesn’t sit well with the game of cricket,” he added.
Bavum’s remarks reflected a balanced stance, questioning optics without judging motivations.
HOW THE SERIES BEGAN
The debate over the customary handshake resurfaced during the Asia Cup when India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha. Suryakumar later said the gesture was meant as a show of solidarity with the families of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack in which 26 people lost their lives. Indian security agencies attributed the attack to Pakistani militants.
The the decision sparked widespread debategiven the political sensitivities that often surround cricket encounters between India and Pakistan.
OTHER VOICES ARE WELCOME
Former England captains Michael Vaughan and Alastair Cook also responded to the situation on the Stick to Cricket podcast. Vaughan described it as “sad” and said not shaking hands on the cricket field does not reflect well on the spirit of the game.
Cook, meanwhile, suggested the gesture may be largely symbolic, noting reports that players from both sides have continued to interact cordially outside the public eye.
While opinions remain divided, it was Bavuma’s measured assessment of how the situation appeared to the outside world that brought fresh perspective to an issue that continues to attract attention across borders.
T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup Schedule | T20 World Cup Points Table | T20 World Cup Videos | Cricket News | Live Score
– The end
Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
02 March 2026 19:54 IST
