The high-voltage clash between India and Pakistan in the group stage of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 may have been one-sided in India’s favour, but it was the absence of a handshake that once again stole headlines. From the toss to the post-match formalities, there was visible distance between the two teams. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart, reigniting debate around the long-standing no-handshake policy.

Amid this renewed controversy, former England captain Alastair Cook has made a candid and rather blunt observation. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket, Cook suggested that the no-handshake stance is largely symbolic and doesn’t reflect what actually happens away from the cameras. In a discussion with Michael Vaughan, David Lloyd, and Phil Tufnell, Cook remarked that while players avoid public gestures, they continue to communicate privately. According to him, the lack of a handshake on the field feels more like a show, as conversations and cordial interactions still take place behind closed doors.

Michael Vaughan, however, expressed disappointment over the situation, calling it sad that players cannot even share a simple handshake on the cricket field. Cook countered this by downplaying any notion of real hostility, insisting that there is no deep-rooted animosity between the players themselves, only externally imposed boundaries.

The no-handshake policy between India and Pakistan is not new. It began during the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai, where political tensions led to players from both sides avoiding physical gestures of sportsmanship. That edition saw the two teams face each other three times, with no handshakes exchanged in any match. The same approach was later adopted in women’s cricket and Under-19 fixtures as well.

Now, with the policy continuing into the T20 World Cup, Cook’s remarks have added fresh fuel to the debate—raising the question of whether the absence of a handshake truly reflects reality, or whether it has become little more than a public formality masking a very different equation off the field.