Grudge match hits boiling point as snub shadows India's brilliant display against Pakistan
Arch rivals India and India declined to shake hands before and after the most-anticipated game of cricket's T20 World Cup, with India easily winning by 61 runs to secure its Super 8 spot.
India opener Ishan Kishan scored 77 off 40 deliveries in a match which almost didn't take place after Pakistan had threatened a boycott earlier this month before reversing its decision.
Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha and India captain Suryakumar Yadav didn't shake hands at the toss, which Pakistan won and chose to field.
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India and Pakistan players had refused to shake hands at last year’s acrimonious Asia Cup tournament in the United Arab Emirates that took place amid diplomatic and military tensions between the two neighbours.
Ishan Kishan bowled out by Saim Ayub of Pakistan. Getty
India made a competitive 7-175 on a sticky pitch at R. Premadasa Stadium.
In reply, Pakistan was bowled out for 114 in 18 overs. Despite the heavy defeat, Pakistan can still advance from Group A and plays Namibia in its last group game.
The game was the first time the teams have met since the Asia Cup, won by India.
In the lead-up to the match in Colombo, Agha said he believed it was up to the Indian players to decide whether they would shake hands with his team before and after the game.
Yadav, for his part, had been non-committal.
“Why are you highlighting that?” Suryakumar asked reporters on the eve of the game.
“We are here to play cricket. We will play good cricket."
Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Salman Agha of Pakistan after the coin toss. ICC via Getty Images
Pakistan’s government considered not playing the match after the International Cricket Council kicked Bangladesh out of the World Cup for refusing to play matches in India, citing security concerns.
Pakistan only agreed to play after intense discussions with the governing body and the fixture is a major revenue earner for the ICC.
Political and military tensions have meant the two teams have not played a bilateral series for years.
India has not travelled to Pakistan since 2008 and Pakistan visited India for the 50-over World Cup in 2023 but has since played ICC tournaments at neutral venues.
India has defeated Pakistan 13 times in the seventeen T20 games they have played. It now also has an impressive 8-1 record in the nine T20 World Cup matches since the first edition in 2007.
