Former India cricketer Sanjay Manjrekar has sharply criticised India’s no-handshake policy with Pakistan, calling the gesture “silly” and suggesting that it sends the wrong message on the global stage. His remarks came just hours before the much-anticipated India vs Pakistan encounter at the Men's T20 World Cup 2026 in Colombo on Sunday.
The policy, which first drew attention during the Asia Cup 2025, has remained a subject of intense debate. During the continental tournament in September last year, Indian players refrained from shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts in all three meetings between the two sides, including the final. There were no handshakes at the toss and none after the conclusion of matches.
"This ‘no shaking hands’ is such a silly thing that India has started," Manjrekar wrote on X.
“It’s unbecoming of a nation like ours. Either play properly within the spirit of the game or don’t play at all,” he added.
The move came in the aftermath of a tense four-day cross-border conflict between India and Pakistan in May, which had escalated diplomatic tensions and brought the two nations to the brink of a larger military confrontation. The Indian team’s gesture was widely seen as a mark of protest. Meanwhile, both India and Pakistan are set to meet each other on Sunday in Colombo in what is expected to be a fierce battle between the bitter rivals.