Shaheen Afridi Usman Tariq Left Stranded By Indian Players. Image Credits: X
Pakistani cricketers Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq were kept waiting in the middle, as the Indian players didn't turn up to them for the customary post-match handshake following their one-sided victory in the high-voltage T20 World Cup 2026 match. Hardik Pandya hit the final nail in Pakistan's coffin, cleaning up Usman Tariq with an accurate delivery in the final ball of his third over.
Thus, the ace allrounder stamped India's authoritative victory over their arch-rivals in the T20 World Cup. While India celebrated the emphatic win, Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq waited to shake hands with their counterparts, only to leave the ground in disappointment.
India players ignore Shaheen Afridi, Usman Tariq's handshake plea
Chasing a daunting target of 176 runs, Pakistan were rocked by a top-order collapse that saw the early departures of Saim Ayub, Sahibzada Farhan and captain Salman Ali Agha. Despite Usman Khan's valiant 44-run knock, the Men in Green couldn't recover from the early setbacks, losing crucial wickets at regular intervals.
While Axar Patel derailed the Pakistani middle-order with pivotal breakthroughs of Babar Azam and Usman, the likes of Varun Chakaravarthy and Tilak Varma dented the Men in Green with nasty blows. Hardik Pandya finally wrapped things up, castling Usman Tariq's middle stump with a good length delivery.
After the T20 World Cup match concluded, Tariq and Shaheen Afridi, Pakistan's last batting pair, paused for a while, anticipating a post-match handshake with the Indian players. However, the Indian cricketers congratulated each other, forcing the Pakistani duo to leave the ground.
The clip of Shaheen and Tariq waiting for their Indian counterparts for the handshake spread like wildfire on social media. It garnered a lot of traction, with fans voicing their opinions on both sides of the argument.
As can be seen in the video attached above, Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq looked back at the Indian players, wondering if the Men in Blue would come forward for the customary post-match handshake.
However, despite being accused of devaluing the sportsman spirit, Suryakumar Yadav and his men kept the Pakistani duo waiting, adhering to the protocols set by the BCCI.
Why Indian players didn't shake hands with Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq?
It's worth noting that the Indian players have maintained a 'no handshake' policy with the Pakistani players since the Asia Cup 2025.
They have taken the stance in retaliation for Pakistan's involvement in the barbaric terror attack in Pahalgam, a city in the Indian Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. This is the reason why Suryakumar Yadav and his troops didn't come forward to shake hands with Shaheen Afridi and Usman Tariq in the T20 World Cup.
Pakistan-sponsored terrorist attack in Pahalgam affected the cricketing ties between both countries, as India launched a counter-terrorism military operation, 'Operation Sindoor', successfully neutralising multiple terror camps on Pakistani soil.
Although the India-Pakistan war ended in a ceasefire in May last year, the military conflict worsened their cricketing relations. The Indian players refrained from shaking hands with the Pakistani cricketers, while also refusing to collect the trophy from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as a Federal Minister of the Pakistani government.
India in Super 8s, Pakistan to face Namibia in do-or-die T20 World Cup match
The outcome of the mega clash had contrasting effects on India and Pakistan's T20 World Cup 2026 campaigns. While the Men in Blue qualified for the Super 8 round, their arch-rivals must emerge victorious in their final match against Namibia to avoid a humiliating group-stage elimination from the tournament.
