Ind vs Pak: Suryakumar Yadav avoids shaking hands with Pakistan captain at toss

India captain Suryakumar Yadav did not exchange the customary handshake with his Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha at the toss of their T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday, continuing a protocol that has been in place since the Asia Cup in Dubai last year.

India have followed this position since the Asia Cup 2025, extending it across age-group tournaments as well as men's and women's cricket. Players from the two sides have not shaken hands since last year's Asia Cup in Dubai, staged in the aftermath of the Pahalgam massacre and the subsequent Operation Sindoor conducted by the Indian Armed Forces.

"(Do you mind batting first?) Not at all. We were looking to bat first. We've seen the results here, and we've batted in the last two games and won both the games defending, so we don't want to change anything. (On the big occasion) I think it's easy to say that it's just another game, but it is an occasion. These games are always very high stakes, but at the same time, you've got to know what you want to do. That's more important. Stay in the present, back your skills, put your A game forward and be yourself. (Does form count?) This sport teaches you a lot of things. On a given day, if you're going well, then anyone can have a good day. Two changes. Abhishek Sharma comes in and Kuldeep Yadav comes in for Arshdeep Singh," India captain Suryakumar Yadav said at the toss.

India made two changes to their playing XI, bringing in fit-again Abhishek Sharma and Kuldeep Yadav in place of



Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh respectively.

Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha won the toss and opted to bowl in the high-voltage Group A encounter. Pakistan named an unchanged team. "It (pitch) looks a bit tacky, so we feel it will assist the bowlers for the first few overs so we want to use that. We are relaxed in our group and excited for this challenge. Bigger ground than SSC and the pitch is slower than SSC," said Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha.

The no-handshake stance first became a major flashpoint during last year's Asia Cup, when Suryakumar's refusal reportedly drew strong reactions from Pakistan and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. Pakistan briefly threatened to boycott their next fixture before eventually continuing in the tournament.

The controversy lingered through the competition and resurfaced during the final. After defeating Pakistan, India did not accept the trophy from Naqvi, who is also the ACC chairman and Pakistan's interior minister. The Indian team is yet to receive the trophy after Naqvi took it back with him.

IND vs PAK: PLAYING XIs

India (Playing XI): Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah

Pakistan (Playing XI): Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan, Salman Agha(c), Babar Azam, Mohammad Nawaz, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Usman Khan(w), Shaheen Afridi, Abrar Ahmed, Usman Tariq