NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav will not engage in the customary handshake with his Pakistan counterpart Salman Ali Agha at the toss of their T20 World Cup clash in Colombo on Sunday, continuing the approach adopted since the Asia Cup in Dubai last year.
"The No handshake Policy will continue," a Board of Control for Cricket in India official in Colombo confirmed requesting anonymity.
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Policy to Continue in Colombo
There will also be no handshake between players and support staff of the two sides after the match, a practice followed by Suryakumar as a gesture of respect for the families of those killed in the Pahalgam terror attack and in solidarity with the Indian Army following Operation Sindoor.
It had already appeared likely that the status quo would remain, with neither Surya nor Salman committing to a handshake, while the Pakistan captain remarked that he would like to "uphold" the spirit of cricket.
For the Indian camp, the emotions surrounding the Pahalgam terror attack in April are still fresh. There was considerable backlash after Suryakumar was seen shaking hands with Mohsin Naqvi, chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board, during the pre-tournament captains' press conference in Dubai.
(With PTI Inputs)
