Former India cricketer and renowned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar has strongly criticised the ongoing controversy surrounding Indian players’ reported decision not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts, calling the practice foolish and unworthy of the spirit of the game.
In a post on social media, Manjrekar said the tradition of refusing handshakes was “a useless thing that India has started,” adding that such actions do not befit a country like India.
“Either play with the spirit of the game or do not play at all,” he remarked, emphasising the importance of sportsmanship in international cricket.
The remarks come ahead of the highly anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the T20 World Cup scheduled to be held in Colombo on Sunday.
When asked about the matter during a pre-match press conference at the R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday, Suryakumar responded with a smile, saying he would “wait 24 hours.” The question was posed to him twice, but his answer remained unchanged.
The controversy dates back to the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai, where Suryakumar had similarly avoided shaking hands with Pakistani players following ‘Operation Sindoor.’ At the time, he stated that the decision was in line with the policy of the Indian government and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).
With tensions surrounding the gesture once again in focus, all eyes will be on the captains when they walk out for the toss in what promises to be another high-voltage encounter between the arch-rivals.
It is worth mentioning here that Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav has expressed full confidence in his team’s preparations ahead of the high-voltage encounter against Pakistan in the ICC T20 World Cup.
Speaking at a press conference in Colombo on the eve of the much-anticipated clash, Suryakumar acknowledged the strength of Pakistan’s bowling unit, particularly their spin attack.
He said the team management has devised its strategy keeping Pakistan’s potent spinners in mind.
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