Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2026 captain Salman Ali Agha said on Saturday that he expects Sunday’s highly anticipated match against arch-rivals India to be played in the “right spirit,” but he remained uncertain about whether the customary pre-match and post-match handshakes will take place.
Addressing reporters in Colombo, Agha acknowledged the political tensions surrounding the clash and the added pressure of captaining in one of cricket’s most watched fixtures. The two sides have not played each other since the tense Asia Cup 2025 final, where India refused handshakes before and after matches, drawing criticism from players and fans alike.
“I expect the game should be played in the spirit that it has always been played since its inception,” Agha said, but added that only time would tell whether the players would engage in traditional handshakes. “We’ll find out tomorrow,” he remarked.
Earlier controversies saw Pakistan briefly consider boycotting the match in protest over Bangladesh’s removal from the tournament for refusing to play in India on security grounds, a move that threatened to derail one of cricket’s most lucrative fixtures before the International Cricket Council (ICC) facilitated a compromise to allow the game to go ahead.
Both teams have won their opening two matches in the tournament, with rain forecast for Sunday’s game. Agha said Pakistan is prepared to adjust to any changes in match conditions, including a shortened contest due to weather.