India and Pakistan players do not shake hands since Asia Cup 2025 post Operation Sindoor.
Former England captain Alastair Cook has doubted whether the Indian and Pakistani players are not shaking hands for the sake of it and talking and mingling behind closed doors in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
In recent months, the rivalry between India and Pakistan has intensified. While the Men in Blue have maintained their advantage on the field, attention has switched to their unwillingness to shake hands with their conventional opponents, a move that has caused international criticism.
The stance originally emerged during last year's Asia Cup, when India captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with Pakistani players. The move was portrayed as a sign of respect for the families of those slain in the Pahalgam terror incident, as well as solidarity with the Indian Army following Operation Sindoor.
While the Indian team received criticism from former overseas cricketers and the Pakistani cricket fraternity, several ex-Indian cricketers have come out in support of the Men in Blue’s stance.
Former England players Michael Vaughan, Alastair Cook, Phil Tufnell, and David Lloyd debated the topic on the Stick to Cricket YouTube podcast. The chat began with them discussing India's recent on-field dominance over archrivals, with Tufnell claiming Pakistan is no match for India at the time.
“Dare I say it, Pakistan against India—that's a mismatch, isn’t it?" Tufnell said.
Known for voicing strong thoughts, Vaughan claimed that the Indian team on the field intimidates Pakistan.
“I mean, it looks to me that way. It seems to me every time Pakistan plays India, they look intimidated by India on a cricket field," Vaughan added.
After India once again refused to shake hands with Pakistan during the T20 World Cup match, the former England cricket players' conversation quickly drifted to the handshake controversy. Vaughan said that the two teams' relationship seems to have soured.
“That whole situation is sour, isn’t it? You know, it is just sad. Not shaking hands on a cricket field," Vaughan exclaimed.
Alastair Cook added a different perspective to the conversation by speculating out loud about whether the conflict is only for the public to see and implying that, away from the cameras, things might be typical between the players.
“But aren’t they talking behind closed doors? I read somewhere that everyone’s just chatting away. It is like it is only for show, isn’t it? On the actual field, they are not shaking hands, but then behind closed doors, they are all talking and are all fine," Cook stated.
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Both India and Pakistan have qualified for the Super 8s stage and have been put in separate groups.