IND vs PAK: Will India & Pakistan players shake hands in T20 World Cup 2026 match 27?

The IND vs PAK clash in T20 World Cup 2026 will take place on Sunday, February 15.

The most highly anticipated clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 between arch-rivals India and Pakistan is set to take place on February 15, at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo. While India hold a massive edge in this rivalry, the tracks in Sri Lanka are slow and helpful for spinners, which makes Pakistan a strong contender.

Team India is yet to deliver their best performance with the bat at the event so far, with their middle order struggling against the slower bowlers and spinners. Pakistan, boosted by the likes of Shadab Khan, Usman Tariq, Mohammad Nawaz and Abrar Ahmed, will look to expose the vulnerabilities in India’s star studded lineup.

However, the Men in Blue possess a formidable bowling attack, spearheaded by the world’s premier fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah, while Varun Chakravarthy’s mystery spin continues to bamboozle batters almost every time he is introduced into the attack.

With the two best bowling sides in the competition, going head-to-head, this battle will involve plenty of spice and drama, given the tensions between the two nations both on and off the field.

IND vs PAK: Will India & Pakistan players shake hands with each other?

Since the devastating Pahalgam terror attack, and the subsequent war between India and Pakistan, tensions have flared across the neighbouring countries. Politics has found its way into the cricket field as well, with talks of boycott taking place prior to the event.

When India and Pakistan last faced each other at the Asia Cup, there was no handshake between the teams. Tensions were evident throughout the contest, with frequent verbal exchanges, and players openly taunting each other during wicket celebrations and half-century milestones.

Leading up to the T20 World Cup 2026, the relationship between both nations have not improved, and hence one expects the no-handshake policy to continue.

Speaking on same in press-conference ahead of the match, Suryakumar Yadav said: “Wait 24 hours, We will play good cricket then decide on it – Sleep well and eat good, Wait for 24 hours.”

Since this is an ICC event, many rumors have surfaced that India might be willing to shake hands. Also, some unverified reports have claimed that Indian players might shake hands with Pakistan players as PCB kept this as a condition in order to cancel their boycott.

While Marylebone Cricket Club’s Spirit of Cricket requests players to uphold the spirit of cricket, there is no hard and fast rule that forces players of both teams to shake hands.

In fact, a handshake would likely be unwelcome among fans from both nations. It could attract intense criticism toward Suryakumar Yadav and his team, especially after the India captain publicly linked the no-handshake stance to the May 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.

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