Former Indian cricketer and commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has strongly criticized India’s decision to abstain from handshakes in the lead-up to the India-Pakistan match in the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo. Manjrekar expressed his disapproval of the stance taken by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), describing it as ‘foolish’ and not in line with the country’s values.
In a social media post before the much-anticipated game, Manjrekar stated, “The ‘no shaking hands’ directive adopted by India is nonsensical. It does not reflect well on a nation like ours. We should either play the game in the true spirit or not participate at all.”
India’s policy of refraining from handshakes dates back to the Pahalgam attack in 2025 and the subsequent military action known as Operation Sindoor. Since then, the Indian men’s cricket team has avoided traditional handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts.
The decision to forgo handshakes has generated significant discussion leading up to the match, with both team captains being questioned about their intentions regarding the gesture. While Pakistan’s captain, Salman Ali Agha, mentioned that the final say rested with India, Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav maintained suspense by evading direct inquiries during the pre-match press conference.
Yadav hinted at revealing his stance on the issue on the day of the match, stating, “I will disclose the decision tomorrow. Let’s focus on the game, which is the primary concern.”
