T20 World Cup: How India vs Pakistan relations went from bad to worse | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup News
Political Tensions Surround India-Pakistan T20 World Cup Match
When India faces Pakistan in the T20 World Cup on Sunday, the match carries implications beyond the cricket field, underscored by a complex political backdrop that has marked this contest and the tournament itself.
The longstanding rivalry between the two South Asian nations has been shaped by decades of conflict, including a recent four-day military engagement in May 2025. This history has turned cricket clashes into highly charged events, occasionally leading to boycotts, canceled matches, and on-field altercations.
The impact of recent tensions is evident in the deteriorating cricket relations between the teams since the May conflict.
September 14: No Handshake Controversy
The tension was palpable during an Asia Cup match on September 14. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav declined to shake hands with Pakistan’s Salman Ali Agha at the toss, leading fans to question the motives behind the decision. After securing victory, Yadav and his batting partner, Shivam Dube, again avoided customary post-match handshakes, which drew scrutiny. Yadav later stated that the team had premeditated this decision due to the April attack in Indian-administered Kashmir.
September 17: Protest Against Match Referee
The controversy rippled further, as Pakistan refused to take the field against the UAE in protest of match referee Andy Pycroft’s role in the handshake incident. The Pakistan Cricket Board demanded Pycroft’s removal, citing his involvement in the prior match. The match faced a one-hour delay while discussions unfolded, ultimately concluding with Pycroft’s apology for the “miscommunication.”
September 21: Heated Exchanges on the Field
When the teams met again on September 21, tempers flared as players exchanged heated words, with Pakistani bowler Haris Rauf engaging India’s Abhishek Sharma, who later responded with a decisive innings of 74 runs. Tensions escalated further when Rauf gestured towards Indian fans, referencing Pakistan’s claims of downing Indian jets during the May conflict. The Board of Control for Cricket in India lodged a complaint against Rauf and Pakistani batsman Sahibzada Farhan, while Pakistan responded by filing a complaint against Yadav for mentioning Indian military actions in a post-match interview.
September 28: Trophy Presentation Controversy
The Asia Cup final culminated in further controversy when India, having defeated Pakistan by five wickets, refused to accept the tournament trophy. The presentation by Mohsin Naqvi, the Pakistani interior minister and president of the Asian Cricket Council, sparked India’s decision. BCCI Chairman Devajit Saikia explained that the refusal was due to Naqvi’s political position. This disagreement delayed the trophy presentation by over an hour.
October 5: No Handshake at Women’s World Cup
The controversy extended to women’s cricket when the Indian women’s team mirrored their male counterparts by declining to shake hands with Pakistan during their encounter at the ICC Women’s World Cup in Sri Lanka.
November 4: ICC Sanctions Players
In November, the International Cricket Council penalized players from both teams for violating the code of conduct during their matches. Yadav and Rauf were fined 30% of their match fees and received two demerit points each, with Rauf facing further disciplinary action from the final.
January 25: Pakistan Questions World Cup Participation
Following Bangladesh’s removal from the T20 World Cup, the Pakistan Cricket Board announced that it would reassess its participation in the tournament, pending a final decision from the Prime Minister.
February 1: Boycott Announcement
In a surprising move, Pakistan’s government declared on February 1 that its cricket team would not compete against India on February 15 in an act of solidarity with Bangladesh.
February 9: Boycott Reversal
Days later, Pakistan reversed this decision, announcing that the team would indeed take the field, citing negotiations with various cricket boards as the basis for their reversal.
As the two teams prepare for their much-anticipated match, the intersection of sports and politics remains a focal point in their rivalry.
