Cricket Diplomacy on Ice: No Handshakes at T20 Showdown

Ahead of their T20 World Cup match, Pakistan's captain, Salman Ali Agha, was non-committal on whether his team would shake hands with India, following India's stance to avoid doing so in solidarity due to past terror attacks. Tensions are palpable, but Agha emphasizes the spirit of the game.


Devdiscourse News Desk | Colombo | Updated: 14-02-2026 14:29 IST | Created: 14-02-2026 14:29 IST
Cricket Diplomacy on Ice: No Handshakes at T20 Showdown
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Amid heightened tensions, Pakistan's T20 World Cup captain Salman Ali Agha has not confirmed if their team will shake hands with India before Sunday's clash. India's captain Suryakumar Yadav earlier announced the decision to refrain from the customary handshake out of respect for victims of last year's Pahalgam terror attack.

The move was also a gesture of solidarity with the Indian military efforts during 'Operation Sindoor'. With neither team's captains expected to engage in the handshake, cricketing diplomacy hangs in balance as both nations head into the match.

Agha stated, "We will see about it tomorrow," when pressed about the pre-game ritual. Despite past contentions and Pakistan's initial stance on boycotting, Agha hopes the match will uphold the spirit in which cricket was always meant to be played.

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