The T20 World Cup 2026 match between Pakistan and India is set to take place on February 15 in Colombo. This comes after a period of political tension and diplomatic discussions. One aspect that will not change is the expectation that players will not extend their hands for a handshake during the match.
No handshake in IND vs PAK:
The decision to skip handshakes did not start at this World Cup. This trend began during last year’s Asia Cup when Indian players walked off the field after defeating Pakistan, choosing not to shake hands. This was not an isolated event, as both teams avoided handshakes in three matches. Additionally, Team India declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from the ACC and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.
India has maintained this no-contact policy during its participation in various tournaments, including the Women’s World Cup and the Under-19 World Cup. The Indian Cricket board insists that while handshakes are a customary practice, they do not mandate them according to their internal rules.
The existing guidelines governing cricket matches between India and Pakistan will remain in effect for the upcoming T20 World Cup match.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) raised the handshake issue during discussions with ICC officials in Lahore. PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi asked that players and support staff begin shaking hands again as a sign of mutual respect. However, the ICC reportedly showed little interest in addressing this matter, according to Revsportz.
The MCC’s Spirit of Cricket emphasizes respect among players while allowing them to maintain their own customs. Although handshakes are generally expected, teams are not obligated to perform this act. India maintains its stance on avoiding handshakes following the Pahalgam terror attack.
Pakistan’s demands during discussions:
Pakistan has linked the handshake issue to a broader set of demands, threatening to boycott the match against India if their requests are not met. During a meeting in Lahore, the PCB presented three main demands to ICC Deputy Chairman Imran Khawaja and Associate Members representative Mubashir Usmani.
The PCB requested a larger share of ICC revenue distribution. Currently, Pakistan receives around 5.75%, which it believes does not reflect its contributions, especially compared to India’s nearly 39%. Pakistan also sought to restore cricketing ties with India through bilateral agreements, as no series has occurred between the two nations since 2012-13 due to ongoing political and security issues. A return to handshakes was the third demand.
The ICC considered these requests but did not agree to them. PCB officials were warned that skipping scheduled matches could lead to penalties and fines under the Members Participation Agreement. While all parties promised to present their concerns to the ICC Board, no assurances were made about achieving a favorable outcome.
Despite the uncertainty, the match between Pakistan and India will go ahead as scheduled. The ICC reached an agreement with all full-member nations, which included discussions involving the BCB. Pakistan had briefly considered boycotting the tournament after Bangladesh withdrew but will not face penalties for this decision. Bangladesh will maintain the right to host an ICC event before the 2023 ODI World Cup.
