COLOMBO, Sri Lanka — As anticipation builds for the T20 World Cup clash on Sunday, Pakistan’s captain Salman Ali Agha has expressed that the decision for players to shake hands will rest solely with India. This match marks the first encounter between the two cricketing rivals since the contentious Asia Cup of the previous year, where tensions flared and players from both sides refrained from handshakes.
Concerns surrounding political and diplomatic relations have cast a shadow over cricket, highlighted recently when Pakistan’s government threatened to boycott the match following the ICC’s decision to exclude Bangladesh from the World Cup due to security worries in India. After extensive dialogue with the ICC, Pakistan confirmed its participation, given the high stakes of the match as a significant revenue source for the tournament.
The heated exchange during the Asia Cup, where India’s Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Agha, underscored the ongoing rivalry. Both players were fined for violating the ICC’s code of conduct amid tensions that marked the prestigious event, which India ultimately won.
Agha emphasized the importance of maintaining the spirit of the game, saying, “The game should be played in real spirit, the way it has been played since it started. The rest is up to them (India), what they want to do.” Meanwhile, Suryakumar maintained a diplomatic stance, stressing their focus on playing quality cricket and indicating that decisions on exchanges would be made closer to the match.
Historically, India has performed strongly against Pakistan in T20 competitions, boasting a record of 12 victories out of 16 encounters, including a dominant 6-1 lead in T20 World Cup matches since the tournament’s inception in 2007. Agha acknowledged Pakistan’s challenges in past World Cups, stating, “We don’t have a good record against them in World Cups. But whenever you come to play a new match, it’s a new day and you have to play good cricket to win.” He added that the team would learn from history to improve their performance.
Questions surrounding the legality of Pakistan spinner Usman Tariq’s bowling action have also emerged, with concerns raised by the Indian media. Agha defended Tariq, stating he has been cleared twice by the ICC and is accustomed to scrutiny.
Finally, India’s opening batter Abhishek Sharma is under observation after missing a previous match due to a stomach infection, raising questions about his fitness ahead of this crucial encounter. As both teams prepare mentally and physically, fans are hopeful for an exciting match that embodies the spirit of cricket despite the backdrop of tension between the two nations.