India and Pakistan meet Sunday at the R. Premadasa Stadium in the Asia Cup, and the cricket will share the stage with a familiar sideshow as India once again look set to avoid the pre-match handshake.
The same scene played out last year in the UAE, where the two sides faced each other three times in the Asia Cup and never exchanged handshakes. Colombo now appears ready for a repeat, with Indian media reporting that nothing will change when the captains walk out for the toss.
Both captains faced the question head-on in Colombo on the eve of the match. Suryakumar Yadav and Salman Ali Agha both ducked it with care, choosing diplomacy over declarations in front of the cameras.
Suryakumar kept his cards close to his chest and said, “Everything will be clear at the toss tomorrow.” He spoke calmly, but his words carried the unmistakable sense that India have no intention of changing their stance.
Pakistan subtly shifted the pressure across the table. Salman avoided making any commitment and left the door open, but the message coming out of Colombo suggests that door will stay firmly shut.
According to the Indian Express, the likelihood remains high that Salman and Suryakumar will not shake hands at the toss. That would follow the pattern from the 2025 Asia Cup, where the players also avoided handshakes even after matches ended.
Behind the scenes, the issue has already reached administrators. At a recent tripartite meeting in Lahore involving the BCB, PCB and the International Cricket Council, Pakistan requested that players from both sides be encouraged to shake hands during the upcoming T20 World Cup.
That context explains Pakistan’s softer tone in Colombo. By nudging the conversation towards India, they have tried to frame the issue as one-sided, even though history shows both teams have stayed rigid.
