India’s controversial “no handshake” stance against Pakistan has once again come into limelight ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo on Sunday, February 15. Ahead of the high-voltage Group C match, Sanjay Manjrekar has criticized India’s “no handshake” stance against Pakistan.
Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes India’s ‘no handshake’ stance against Pakistan
The former Indian batsman described the move as unnecessary and questioned whether it was suitable for a country like India. Sanjay Manjrekar boldly suggested that India should play Pakistan in the spirit of the game; Otherwise, they should not face them in any tournament.
Also Read: When was the last time India vs Pakistan World Cup match was played without Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma?
Sanjay Manjrekar had posted on
This ‘no handshake’ is such a stupid thing that India has started. This is unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.
– Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) 15 February 2026
How did the handshake start?
It all started after Operation Sindoor during the 2025 Asia Cup in Dubai, which was a response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack carried out by a Pakistan-based organization in April 2025. The Indian cricket team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, skipped the usual pre- and post-match talks with Pakistan. This decision surprised many fans and experts.
At the time, Suryakumar had said that the move was a sign of respect for the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack as well as support for the Indian armed forces involved in Operation Sindoor.
The captain confirmed that the decision was in line with the Government of India and the BCCI. Apart from the men’s team, India’s women’s team and youth teams also adopted the same approach in their matches against Pakistan.
Also read: Sourav Ganguly made fun of Usman Tariq’s promotion, said- he is no threat to India
Uncertainty before T20 World Cup 2026
Later, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) filed an official complaint with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and the International Cricket Council (ICC). PCB described this move as against the spirit of cricket. There were even calls for the removal of match referee Andy Pycroft, claiming that he had instructed Pakistan not to shake hands at the toss at India’s request.
On the other hand, BCCI is adamant on its insistence. The Indian board has stated that shaking hands is a goodwill gesture and is not a mandatory rule under the ICC rule book. Now, ahead of the T20 World Cup 2026 clash in Colombo, both the captains, Suryakumar and Salman Ali Aga, have avoided giving a clear answer on whether the ice will melt.
Usman Tariq became Pakistan’s surprise weapon!
Meanwhile, former Pakistan captain Mohammad Hafeez believes that the huge buzz around Usman Tariq is a big mental victory for Pakistan against India. He also said that Tariq has already created a lot of panic in the Indian camp and this is a big win for them.
“If we go into the cricket aspect, the hype around Usman Tariq is another psychological win for us. Right now, no one is talking about Babar Azam or any other player. People are only talking about Usman Tariq. He has played just one or two matches for Pakistan, but just imagine how much terror he has created in the Indian camp. He is especially popular in his sessions,” Mohammad Hafeez was quoted as saying by NDTV. “Practicing against.”
