Pakistan skipper Salman Agha (second from left) and Indian captain Surya Kumar Yadav on the toss earlier than their ICC Males’s T20 World Cup encounter at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, February 15, 2026. — AFP
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav as soon as once more skipped a customary handshake with Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha because the arch-rivals met in a high-voltage conflict on the T20 World Cup.
Forward of the conflict at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the Indian skipper had requested individuals to attend for immediately’s match — however he repeated his earlier motion.
In final 12 months’s Asia Cup, the 2 sides had met thrice, and Yadav refused to shake arms each time, a transfer which has prompted criticism from India as properly.
The tensions had been working excessive because the Asia Cup event was the primary for the reason that two nuclear neighbours went to warfare in Might 2025, which finally ended after mediation from the USA.
The Pakistan captain had hoped that the gamers would shake arms, not like throughout their three Asia Cup matches in Dubai final 12 months.
“The game should be played in the true spirit of the game,” Agha instructed reporters in Colombo on Saturday.
“It has been the norm in cricket for years but whatever way they want, we will only know tomorrow.”
For his half, the Indian skipper prevented instantly answering a query relating to the handshake, stressing that the fixture was extra vital than handshakes.
“Wait for 24 hours. Eat well, sleep well, we will see tomorrow,” Yadav instructed reporters.
“Let’s break the suspense tomorrow. I just spoke about it. What’s more important? You tell me. The game is important. Let’s play the match first. Whether the handshake happens at the toss or not, we will see that tomorrow. Let’s just wait 24 hours,” he added.
