Sanjay Manjrekar slams India's "no handshake" policy against Pakistan at the T20 World Cup 2026. Read his blunt take on why this move is "silly" and "unbecoming" of the nation.
Sanjay Manjrekar Opines On Indias nohandshake against Pakistan IND vs PAK T20I World Cup 2026 (Image Source:X)
As India gears up to take on Pakistan in the T20I World Cup 2026 on February 15 at Colombo, a big dilemma has surfaced in every cricket fan's mind. The "no handshake" controversy between India and Pakistan is a question that is yet to be answered.
Amid the ongoing drama, former Indian cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has come out with his peculiar opinion on the no handshake issue between the two arch rivals.
Manjrekar ignited a huge debate on social media with his recent criticism of the Indian team's behaviour on the field. The veteran commentator expressed his disappointment via social media platform X over the players' sidestepping the traditional post-match handshake, calling the act a "silly thing" that does not show the nation in a good light.
The 60-year-old wrote that these kinds of things are not worthy of a country like India, and thus, the players should either show true sporting spirit or not play at all.
This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started. It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all.
— Sanjay Manjrekar (@sanjaymanjrekar) February 15, 2026
According to a report in the Indian Express, the Indian team management seems to be adamant on sticking to their controversial stand on pre-match protocols for the crucial match against Pakistan. The members of the team will reportedly hold on to the tradition of not shaking hands, which basically indicates that the on-field formalities between the two rivals are cooling down.
Thus, the captain Suryakumar Yadav would hardly be willing to offer his hand for the usual formal handshake with his Pakistani counterpart, Salman Agha, at the toss. This kind of move increases the psychological game tensions of the match and reflects the intense and uncompromising atmosphere that currently prevails around this subcontinental showdown.
Also Read: IND vs PAK Live Streaming: When, Where And How To Watch India vs Pakistan T20 World Cup Match Live
