Ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha has expressed his disappointment over India’s behavior during the Asia Cup last year. He criticized India for refusing to shake hands after matches, saying that such actions hurt the spirit of the game. Agha stressed that cricketers are role models, and their behavior influences young fans. “We don’t really feel hurt or anything, but it’s not good for the game,” he said. He believes that skipping the traditional handshake sends the wrong message to cricket fans in both countries and affects the values of sportsmanship that the game should promote.
Salman Ali Agha addressed the handshake controversy with class:
“Such actions damage the spirit of the game. Cricketers are role models, and role models must rise above this.” pic.twitter.com/LfS1pFZiyL— Maaz (@IsThatMaaz) February 6, 2026
During the Asia Cup, India won all three matches against Pakistan, including the final. However, the series was marred by controversies, especially the incident where the Indian team walked off without the customary post-match handshake. This has added to the ongoing tensions between the two cricketing nations. In response to these events, the Pakistan government has announced a boycott of their group-stage match against India, scheduled for February 15 in Colombo. This decision was made in solidarity with Bangladesh, which was removed from the World Cup after raising security concerns about playing in India. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s backing of the boycott highlights the political weight of the decision. As a result, Pakistan must win all their other group matches against the Netherlands, USA, and Namibia to have a chance of advancing in the tournament. Agha acknowledges the difficulty, especially the potential effect on net run rate, but insists the team will give their best in every game.
Big statement by Salman Ali Agha: we can drop even fakhar zaman and Babar Azam if they are not fitting in the playing 11.#T20WorldCup #T20WorldCup2026 #PakistanCricket pic.twitter.com/36jmzBBWd9
— WORLD WIDE🌎 ☠️💪 (@Ghussain305) February 6, 2026
Looking ahead, Agha is confident in Pakistan’s abilities. He emphasized that there is no extra pressure from the boycott, as the expectation in ICC tournaments is always to win most of the games. He highlighted the team’s recent morale boost from their 3-0 home series win against Australia. Ahead of their opening match against the Netherlands on February 7, Agha said Pakistan plans to use their spin bowlers effectively, believing the Dutch might struggle against quality spin.
Pakistan’s schedule also includes matches against the USA on February 10 and Namibia on February 18. The February 15 clash with India remains uncertain due to the boycott. Under Agha’s leadership, Pakistan aims to stay focused, play their best cricket, and navigate the tournament’s challenges while keeping team morale high.
