ICC T20 World Cup 2026: Pakistan cricket captain Salman Agha has remarked that the country is open to the customary handshake with members of the Indian cricket team. However, it is yet to be known whether the same treatment would be provided by his Indian counterpart Surya Kumar Yadav.
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ICC T20 World Cup 2026-Pakistan Captain Delivers ‘Spirit Of Cricket’ Message
Agha delivered the ‘spirit of cricket’ message while confirming that Team Pakistan has absolutely no issues with shaking hands with the Indian cricket team in Colombo.
India and Pakistan would play their Group A match on February 15, 2026. However, rain gods are likely to play spoilsport.
The Pakistan skipper added that he would appreciate that the much-talked cricket rivalry between India and Pakistan is restored in its purest form and without any political layer. Agha urged the Indian team to honour the game’s impeccable heritage. When asked by reporters whether the team would shake hands with members of the Indian team, Salman did not said yes or no but instead said we would all find out that tomorrow itself.
Asia Cup Fiasco
In the 2025 Asia Cup, India refused to shake hands with the Pakistani team members. An official complaint was filed by the Pakistan team against the match referee. A subsequent game witnessed the same fate with no handshakes between the two teams. On top of that, the Indian cricket team declined to accept the winning trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board Chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The PCB Chief then took the trophy with him and yet to return it back to the winning Indian team.
Interestingly, Pakistan players stay barred from the lucrative Indian Premier League. In both countries, media coverage in the context of cricket matches is often touted as a test of national resolve and battle, feeding hyper-nationalism instead of easing hostility.
