No handshakes during India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup match

Tensions echoed recently concluded men’s Asia Cup, which was fraught with off-field drama

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Jai Rai, Assistant Editor
2 MIN READ
India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her Pakistani counterpart Fatima Sana walk past after the toss ahead of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 one-day international (ODI) match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 5, 2025.
India's captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her Pakistani counterpart Fatima Sana walk past after the toss ahead of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 one-day international (ODI) match at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on October 5, 2025.
AFP

Dubai: It came as no surprise when India and Pakistan stepped out for the toss in their ICC Women’s World Cup clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo — the much-discussed “no-handshake” saga between the two rivals continued. Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur pointedly avoided any interaction with her Pakistani counterpart, Fatima Sana, before the match.

The tensions echoed the recently concluded men’s Asia Cup, which was fraught with off-field drama between the two nations. That tournament saw Suryakumar Yadav’s Indian team decline to shake hands with Pakistan, citing ongoing political tensions. The situation culminated on the final day, when the Indian team chose not to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, head of the ACC and PCB, instead celebrating on the podium without the silverware.

In the lead-up to the Women’s World Cup fixture, speculation swirled over whether a similar diplomatic freeze would play out. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia sidestepped the issue, merely reiterating that the board’s stance toward Pakistan remained unchanged. Pre-match press conferences from both teams offered no clarity either.

Now, the picture is clear. Both captains walked out for the toss separately, avoided eye contact, and refrained from any interaction. After the coin flip, they gave brief interviews to broadcaster Mel Jones and then walked off in opposite directions.

Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bowl first. She maintained her distance from Harmanpreet throughout the proceedings.

Harmanpreet announced one change in the Indian lineup — Renuka Singh Thakur replacing the injured Amanjot Kaur. “We had a good series here before the World Cup. The team is in a positive mindset, and we’re eager to perform well. Unfortunately, Amanjot isn’t fully fit, so Renuka Thakur comes in. The team has gelled well and we’re looking forward to the contest.”

Fatima Sana expressed confidence in her team’s approach, despite Pakistan’s winless ODI record against India in women’s cricket. “We’ve decided to bowl first; the pitch looks like it has some moisture. We’ve made one change. The team is confident — hopefully, we can put in a better performance today. Anything under 250 should be a chaseable target.”

Heading into this match, India came off a strong win against Sri Lanka in their tournament opener, while Pakistan were looking to bounce back after a loss to Bangladesh.

Jai Rai
Jai RaiAssistant Editor
Jai is a seasoned journalist with more than two decades of experience across India and the UAE, specialising in sports reporting. Throughout his distinguished career, he has had the privilege of covering some of the biggest names and events in sports, including cricket, tennis, Formula 1 and golf. A former first-division cricket league captain himself, he brings not only a deep understanding of the game but also a cricketer's discipline to his work. His unique blend of athletic insight and journalistic expertise gives him a wide-ranging perspective that enriches his storytelling, making his coverage both detailed and engaging. Driven by an unrelenting passion for sports, he continues to craft compelling narratives that resonate with readers. As the day winds down for most, he begins his work, ensuring that the most captivating stories make it to the print edition in time for readers to receive them bright and early the next morning.
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