The captains of India and Pakistan refused to shake hands at the coin toss before their highly anticipated T20 World Cup match in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on Sunday, February 15, 2026. This symbolic snub underscores the deep-seated political and military tensions between the two nuclear-armed nations, who were on the brink of all-out war in May 2025.
Background of the Tension
Sunday's match marked the first encounter between the teams since an acrimonious clash at the Asia Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates last September, which India won. On that occasion, players also declined to shake hands, setting a precedent for the current standoff.
Pakistan's captain, Salman Ali Agha, had previously stated that he would leave it up to India's players to decide whether to shake hands before and after the match. However, during the coin toss, India's captain, Suryakumar Yadav, and Agha walked away from each other without making any physical contact, a move that has drawn significant attention from fans and analysts alike.
Political Context and Military Clashes
The refusal to shake hands comes amid heightened political and military tensions. In May 2025, the two nations engaged in the worst fighting in decades following a terror attack in India-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians, mostly Hindu tourists. This incident led to days of missile strikes until a ceasefire was brokered by the US administration.
Due to these tensions, India and Pakistan have not played a bilateral cricket series in years. India's team has not traveled to Pakistan since 2008, and Pakistan's team has not visited India since 2023. However, they have continued to meet in International Cricket Council (ICC) tournaments at neutral venues, such as this World Cup match in Sri Lanka.
Statements from the Captains
In a pre-match statement, Pakistan captain Salman Agha emphasized the spirit of the game, saying, "The game should be played in real spirit, the way it has been played since it started. The rest is up to them (India), what they want to do." He added, "We are here to play cricket. We will play good cricket. We will take all those calls tomorrow. We will see tomorrow (Sunday)."
Agha also acknowledged Pakistan's poor record against India in T20 matches, noting, "We don't have a good record against them in World Cups. But whenever you come to play a new match, it's a new day and you have to play good cricket to win. You can't change history. You can learn from it." India has defeated Pakistan 12 times in the 16 T20 games they have played.
Tournament Controversies
The match almost did not happen due to political disputes. Pakistan's government threatened to boycott Sunday's match after Bangladesh was kicked out of the World Cup for refusing to play matches in India, citing security concerns. It was only after intense discussions with the ICC that Pakistan finally agreed to participate.
Despite ongoing political tensions, India and Pakistan matches have been a fixture at previous World Cups, often drawing massive global audiences. The current situation highlights how sports can become intertwined with geopolitical issues, affecting player interactions and tournament logistics.
As the teams move forward in the T20 World Cup, the handshake snub serves as a stark reminder of the unresolved conflicts between India and Pakistan, casting a shadow over what is typically celebrated as a unifying sporting event.
