IND vs PAK: Will players of India and Pakistan shake hands with each other? What does the ICC rule say?

Colombo. R. of Colombo, the capital of Sri Lanka. The biggest ‘superhit’ match of the cricket world is going to take place today at Premadasa Stadium. The teams of India and Pakistan will face each other in the high-voltage match of T20 World Cup 2026. But apart from the excitement of this match, only one question is echoing in the corridors – will Indian and Pakistani players shake hands with each other on the field? For some time now, Team India’s ‘No Handshake’ policy has created so much buzz that the scenes after the match are more awaited than the toss.

Statements of Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Aga increased suspense

On the eve of the match, when both the captains were asked about shaking hands in the press conference, both of them maintained suspense. Team India captain Suryakumar Yadav smiled and just said, “You will get the answer to this tomorrow on the field itself.” On the other hand, Pakistan captain Salman Aga also remained silent on this issue and said that he cannot say anything about it at the moment and it will be seen only when the time comes. These measured statements of the captains have further fueled this controversy.

The process of ‘no handshake’ started after the Pahalgam attack

Actually, this whole controversy started during Asia Cup 2025. When the Asia Cup was organized just a few months after the terrorist attack in Pahalgam, India had taken a strong stand of not shaking hands with Pakistani players. Indian players have followed this policy in all the three matches held so far including the final of the Asia Cup, which the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has made an issue of its reputation. PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi had even told the ICC that if the decision to shake hands was not taken, he would not play the T20 World Cup match.

What does the ICC rule say? Is handshake mandatory?

ICC took a tough stand on this demand of PCB and rejected it. ICC clarified that handshake is a personal decision of any team and it does not come under their jurisdiction. Although the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC)’s ‘Spirit of Cricket’ calls for players to be cordial and shake hands with the opposing team, there is no such mandatory rule in the Law of Cricket book. Looking at the current situation, the possibility of Indian cricketers joining hands with Pakistan in today’s match in Colombo seems very less.