The field of play has long served as a proxy for the shifting diplomatic tides of the subcontinent, but the lead-up to the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has pushed this relationship into uncharted territory. From the high-stakes standoff over participation to the emergence of “handshake protocols” as a form of silent protest, the sport is increasingly entangled in a complex web of state policy and public sentiment. As traditional cricket diplomacy gives way to a period of institutional frict...