Former cricketer Wahab Riaz recently downplayed the ongoing ‘no-handshake’ policy in place at all India and Pakistan cricket games. The India and Pakistan on field spat continues after lingering for over a decade. This time, the unconventional incident where both teams snub each other occurred at the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup 2026.
India Women (IND-W) defeated Pakistan Women (PAK-W) at the ongoing Women’s T20 WC 2026 in a feisty encounter that attracted media attention. However, the game’s highlights did not receive major attention compared to events leading to and after the encounter.
Both teams did not shake hands before the match, and snubbed handshakes after India clinched victory by 64 runs.
PAK-W Coach Reacts to Unwritten No-Handshake Policy After IND-W Clash
Wahab Riaz played as a leftie seamer for Pakistan’s Men cricket team and is now the country’s women coach. He responded to questions after IND-W dislodged his side to claim maximum points. A reporter asked Riaz about the current policy during the post-match press conference:
“I’m sorry to ask this, but we noticed there were no handshakes again today. What’s the relationship like between the players and the staff from the two different teams? Are you friendly behind the scenes, or is it just frosty?”
Riaz responded with these comments:
“See, I don’t know. I just left Cricket way before, so I don’t know the reason for not shaking hands. But I think if things want to move like this, let’s go like that. It won’t make a big difference,”
No Handshake Between IND-W vs PAK-W Reopens Conversation after Asia Cup Spat
The recent unofficial no-handshake rule did not start in women’s cricket. It became normal for both teams to avoid handshakes after the Pahalgam terror attack claimed over two-dozen Indian lives. Pakistan received the blame for alleged internal security lapses leading to this incident, and the Men in Blue refused to shake hands in their next match:
“Our government and BCCI – we were aligned today,” India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav said at a post-match presser following the incident in late 2025. “Rest, we took a call [to not shake hands]. We came here to just play the game. We have given a proper reply,” the skipper added.
Another PAK Coach Displeased with No-Handshake Policy
Pakistan Men’s white-ball coach Mike Hesson expressed displeasure at the recent turn of events in India vs Pakistan matches. He made this known after the last Asia Cup 2025 match between both sides ended without captains or players exchanging handshakes:
“We were ready to shake hands at the end of the game, we obviously are disappointed that our opposition didn’t do that,” the coach said. “We sort of went over there to shake hands and they’d already gone into the changing room,” he added.
Major Incidents Where Teams Snubbed Each Other
The recent no-handshake policy between India and Pakistan at all levels of cricket is not restricted to both teams. Some cricket teams and sides from other sports have had reasons to snub each other in the past. Here are some major incidents in cricket and other sports that drew media attention in recent years
| Year | Sport | Teams / Individuals | What happened | Outcome |
| 2026 | Cricket | India vs Pakistan | India declined the customary handshakes before and after the Asia Cup group-stage match. | Pakistan criticised the decision. |
| 2026 | Cricket | India vs Pakistan | The teams again skipped handshakes before the Asia Cup Super-Four clash. | No disciplinary action. |
| 2026 | Cricket | India vs Pakistan | No handshakes before or after the Men’s T20 World Cup match. | Continued no-handshake policy. |
| 2026 | Cricket | India vs Pakistan (Women’s T20 WC) | Captains skipped the customary handshake at the toss. | Policy extended to women’s cricket. |
| 2025 | Cricket | India vs Pakistan (Women’s ODI WC) | Captains did not shake hands before the match. | No disciplinary action. |
| 2025 | Cricket | India A vs Pakistan Shaheens | India A players skipped the post-match handshake. | Widely reported during the tournament. |
| 2023 | Cricket | Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh | Sri Lanka players refused post-match handshakes after Angelo Mathews’ controversial timed-out dismissal. | Added to tensions between the teams. |
| 2023 | Cricket | Scotland vs Nepal | Scotland players refused to shake hands with Sandeep Lamichhane after the match. | Protest over Lamichhane’s inclusion. |
| 2023 | Cricket | Namibia vs Nepal | Namibia players also declined to shake hands with Lamichhane. | Similar protest before Scotland’s action. |
| 2023 | Cricket | RCB vs LSG (IPL) | Virat Kohli and Naveen-ul-Haq had a frosty handshake following their on-field altercation. | Both later fined under the IPL Code of Conduct. |
