Agha fuels handshake row as India-Pakistan clash looms
Agha fuels handshake row as India-Pakistan clash looms
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha keeps the handshake debate alive ahead of the India clash in Colombo, with spin likely to decide and teams training separately.
As India and Pakistan gear up for a high-stakes T20 World Cup meeting in Colombo, Salman Ali Agha reignited the handshake debate with a cryptic line: 'I hope match will be played in true sportsmanship. If Pakistan shakes hands, we'll find that out tomorrow.' The remark follows his earlier criticism of India's decision not to shake hands during Asia Cup, which he said was not good for the game and for young fans.
India touched down in Colombo to a festive welcome, with local dancers and drummers greeting the squad at the airport. On the field, the match looms large, with spin likely to play a big role in the Sri Lankan conditions. Both teams will train separately on Saturday: Pakistan from 14:00 to 17:00 local time and India from 18:00 to 21:00, before media briefings.
India’s likely XI features Ishan Kishan, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, and either Abhishek Sharma or Sanju Samson. Abhishek is recovering from illness, while Arshdeep Singh and Hardik have strong past records against Pakistan. With conditions expected to favor spin, Varun Chakravarthy could be in the mix for a crucial role.
Agha had also criticised India’s refusal to shake hands at Asia Cup, saying, 'We don’t really feel hurt or anything like that. But, yeah, for the game it is not good.' The lead-up has intensified the narrative around sportsmanship and rivalry, turning the Colombo clash into more than just a cricket battle.
The countdown to what many call cricket’s great rivalry continues as both sides prepare to focus on cricket rather than the handshake saga. Colombo is set for a spectacle if the weather cooperates and teams stay concentrated on competing at the highest level.
