India vs Pakistan in Colombo: Handshake Controversy and Surya’s Bold Reply Before Sunday Clash

The high-voltage India-Pakistan match will be played on Sunday at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. The handshake controversy is once again in the headlines before the match. Both captains were questioned about the issue at a press conference in Colombo on Saturday, and both gave sharp but clever responses.

Salman Ali Agha’s Sharp Response at the Press Conference

Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha, when asked about the handshake, said, "We will answer this on the field tomorrow." He talked about playing the match with good spirit and sportsmanship, but avoided a direct answer on the handshake.

Suryakumar Yadav’s Witty Take on the Handshake Issue

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav also responded humorously. He said, "Wait for 24 hours, then we'll see." Or, "Eat your food, sleep well, and we'll see tomorrow."

Surya was referring to the decision not to shake hands with Pakistani players during last year's Asia Cup 2025, which was taken in honor of the Indian citizens killed in the Pahalgam terror attack and in support of the army during Operation Sindoor.

Key Points from Agha's Press Conference

The match should be played in a good spirit: Agha said that the India-Pakistan match should be played in the spirit of the game, away from politics. "The game should be played as it has always been."

History cannot be changed: He acknowledged that Pakistan's record against India in the World Cup was poor, but said, "History cannot be changed. We will try our best to perform better this time."

Full confidence in Babar Azam's form: Denying concerns about Babar's form, Agha said, "Babar is not a concern for us. He is scoring runs and will help the team tomorrow as well.

We do not want major changes in the batting order."

Usman Tariq's action cleared twice by the ICC: Regarding questions raised about mystery spinner Usman Tariq's action, Agha said, "The ICC has cleared him twice. We don't know why these issues are being raised. They don't pay attention to them."

Want to play against the best Indian team: Indian opener Abhishek Sharma's fitness (stomach issue) was questioned. Agha said, "Hopefully Abhishek will play tomorrow. We want to play against the best Indian team."

Surya's statement on Abhishek's fitness

Responding to Agha's comment on Abhishek Sharma's availability, Suryakumar jokingly said, "If the Pakistan captain wants, we will definitely play Abhishek." He confirmed that Abhishek is fit and will play against Pakistan.

Usman Tariq – Pakistan’s Mystery Weapon in Colombo

Pakistan's mystery spinner Usman Tariq is in the news. This will be the first time Indian batsmen will face him. He is considered a major weapon for Pakistan on the spin-friendly Colombo pitch.

Despite playing only four T20Is, Usman has taken 11 wickets at an average of 7.91 and an economy rate of 5.93. His unique action, which includes a long pause before delivery and a double-elbow style, troubles batsmen.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav spoke calmly but confidently at the press conference, "If an out-of-syllabus question comes up in the exam, we don't ignore it; we try to answer it. We will do the same." His response resonated with the media.

All eyes are now on Sunday's high-voltage match. Will the heat on the field be as intense as it was in the press conference? The answer will be known in 24 hours.

Also Read - IND vs PAK T20 World Cup 2026: Date, Time, Venue, Squads & Live Streaming Details