With the 2026 T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan coming up, what’s happening away from the pitch is getting as much attention as what the teams plan to do on it. Sanjay Manjrekar – an ex-India batter – has publicly criticised India’s current rule of not shaking hands, saying it’s a ‘silly thing’ and doesn’t really fit the country. Not shaking hands, which is a pretty small thing, has become the sign of a much bigger problem in relations between the two countries.
How the Rule Started
The no-handshake rule began at the 2025 Asia Cup, after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir. The attack, and the military operation – ‘Sindoor’ – that followed, caused the Board of Control for Cricket in India to take a firm position. Since then, most teams in every type of cricket, and at every age level, have avoided official greetings on the field. The rule shows the safety issues, and the political feelings, that have got into sport. People in charge said the move was to protect people, and to be a sign of something. But others say it changes normal sporting behaviour into a political statement.
Manjrekar Speaks Out
Manjrekar used X – a social media site – to say how annoyed he was, writing that not shaking hands was ‘not what you’d expect from a country like ours.’ He told the players to ‘either play the game properly, in the spirit of the game, or not play at all.’ What he said, so directly, started a debate about what sportsmanship should be when countries aren’t getting on with each other. Ex-players and people who comment on the game often change what the public thinks during big matches. Manjrekar’s criticism shows the split in Indian cricket – between those who think it’s more important to show how the country feels, and those who think traditional politeness in cricket is more important.
Captains Don’t Give Much Away
Before the game in Colombo, India captain Suryakumar Yadav wouldn’t say whether India would shake hands with the opposition at the toss. He told reporters to ‘wait 24 hours’ and to focus on the game, putting off giving a definite answer until the toss. His careful answer kept the focus on the match itself, instead of the rule. Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha said he would be happy to go back to normal sporting behaviour, but stressed that the choice was India’s. ‘Cricket should be played in the proper spirit,’ Agha said, and admitted that actions alone couldn’t fix the wider problems between the two countries.
Problems for the People in Charge and the Trophy Issue
The fact that handshakes weren’t happening caused serious problems for those running the game before. After the Asia Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board apparently threatened to not play any more matches, as a protest. Although the PCB later took the threat back, the event made the relationship between the two boards worse. Also making the situation more political, reports said India was still waiting for the Asia Cup trophy, after Pakistan’s interior minister had left the ground with it after a difficult presentation. This showed how events which are really just for show can have a much bigger political meaning.
What to Expect in the Match and What it All Means
On the field, both teams are in good form. India has said Abhishek Sharma is back in the team, and the India A Women’s team had a very good win in Bangkok not long before. The rivalry between the two countries is very strong, and the match is likely to have a lot of good cricket in it, with batsmen and bowlers going at each other hard. Away from the field, the no-handshake rule makes the toss a moment which will be seen as a symbol of something. Whether the captains say hello to each other, or don’t, will get almost as much attention as the first ball. For a lot of people watching, the handshake shows what the relationship between India and Pakistan is generally. The 2026 T20 World Cup match between India and Pakistan will therefore be watched not just for the quality of the cricket, but for what image it gives out. If handshakes come back, it could show things are starting to get better. If they don’t, the match will be another reminder that sport and politics often go in different directions.
