India Women to shun handshakes in Pakistan clash

The build-up to India’s blockbuster Women’s World Cup clash against Pakistan on October 5 in Colombo is already simmering with tension—this time, not just for cricketing reasons. Harmanpreet Kaur’s team will enforce a strict ‘no handshake policy’, mirroring the stance taken by the Indian men’s team during the Asia Cup in Dubai.

With Indo-Pak cricketing relations at their lowest point in years, the symbolic move underscores how deeply politics has seeped into sport. The precedent was set last month when the Indian men’s side refused to shake hands or accept the trophy from a Pakistan representative, after PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi declined to present the winner’s silverware to captain Suryakumar Yadav.

“The BCCI is aligned with the government. There will be no handshake at the toss, no customary photos with the referee, and no post-match exchanges. The women will follow the same protocol as the men,” a senior BCCI official confirmed.

Attention now turns to the toss ceremony in Colombo, where a neutral figure, likely a former international player or pundit is expected to oversee proceedings, avoiding further controversy.

The stance marks a sharp departure from the spirit of camaraderie witnessed at the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand, when photos of Indian players doting over Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s infant daughter went viral, softening rivalries off the field.

This time, however, the mood is starkly different. Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana are unlikely to exchange even the most basic pleasantries emphasizing that in Colombo, it will be cricket alone, stripped of customary courtesies.