Inside India vs Pakistan Drama: Who Blinks First? | FIFA World Cup T20 2026 Explainer
“This ‘no handshake’ is such a stupid thing that India has started. It is unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play the game properly or don’t play at all,” Manjrekar wrote on his X account. India captain Suryakumar Yadav has not confirmed whether he will shake hands with Pakistan players before or after the match in Colombo. In the pre-match press conference, he said: “Wait 24 hours. We are here to play cricket. Eat well and sleep well.”Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said the match should be played the right way and hinted his team was open to the customary gesture. “Cricket should be played in the right spirit. My personal opinion may not matter, but cricket should be played the way it has always been played. It is up to them to decide what to do,” Agha said.During the Asia Cup, Suryakumar refused to shake hands with the Pakistan captain, leading to a reaction from Pakistan. They briefly considered boycotting their next game in the tournament before deciding to go ahead. The no-handshake policy remained in effect for the next two games between the teams.It is not yet clear what decision the Indian captain will make in Sunday’s match.