Pakistan captain Salman Ali Agha made a bold appeal ahead of the blockbuster T20 World Cup 2026 clash against India on Sunday, February 15, in Colombo. Salman Ali Agha made it clear that he wants the India vs Pakistan match to be played in good spirit and without unnecessary tension.

Salman Ali Agha calls for respect over handshake row

Salman hopes for normal handshakes and respect between players from both sides despite the heated rivalry. He also stressed that matches are not decided by toss luck but by performance.

Notably, since Operation Sindoor, following the Pahalgam attack in April 2025, no Indian team has followed the customary handshake or had any discussion with Pakistani players.

Salman Ali Agha said at the pre-match press conference, “We want the game to be played in good spirits. The game should be played like it has been played since it started. Toss cannot decide the game. If you play good cricket, you'll win. Cricket will matter; the toss won't.”

Salman dismisses scrutiny around Usman Tariq ahead of India vs Pakistan game

Meanwhile, Salman also fired a warning over the mystery spinner Usman Tariq. He brushed aside all the noise around Tariq’s bowling action and said the ICC has already cleared him. He claimed that too much hype is being created from the Indian side.

Salman added, “I don’t know why there is so much chatter around Usman Tariq. He has been cleared by ICC. India has hyped him, but he is not affected by all that.”

To be continued...