IND vs PAK: Salman Agha non-committal on handshake ahead of T20 WC match | T20 World Cup 2026

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha refrained from confirming whether his team will engage in the traditional handshake with India ahead of Sunday’s T20 World Cup clash. Despite the increasing speculation and controversy surrounding the issue, Agha stressed that both teams must prioritize the spirit of the game above all else.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Previous Statement

The issue first came to attention during the Asia Cup in September, when India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav made a public announcement in Dubai. Yadav announced that his team will not shake hands with Pakistan as a mark of respect for the Indian citizens who lost their lives in the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025. The decision was also seen as a show of solidarity with the Indian Army during ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Uncertainty before Sunday’s match

However, Ağa remained tight-lipped on the issue and said, “We will see about that tomorrow” when asked if the teams would follow the training on Sunday.

Agha Calls for Respect for the Spirit of Cricket

Amidst the tension, Agha expressed his desire for the game to be played in the true spirit of cricket. Emphasizing the importance of maintaining respect for the sport despite off-field controversies, he said: “I hope that the game should be played in the spirit in which it has been played since its inception.” he said.

As the match draws closer, all eyes will be on whether this long-standing tradition will change or whether both teams will overcome political tensions and focus on the game.
Salman talked about Abhishek’s fitness The Pakistan captain also commented on Abhishek Sharma’s fitness ahead of the match and hoped that he will be ready for tomorrow’s match. “I hope Abhishek Sharma plays tomorrow. I hope he recovers. We want to play against the best.” he said.
Salman is not worried about Usman Tariq’s action When asked about the ‘questionable’ bowling action of his spinner Usman Tariq, Salman clarified that he did not see any problem in it and the player was not much worried about it. “Usman was acquitted twice by the ICC. I don’t know why there is talk about his action. He does not care about all this talk.”