Ahead of the much-anticipated ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 match in Colombo on October 5, the Indian women's team has made it clear that they will not shake hands with Pakistani players during the toss or the match. This decision follows the policy adopted during the Asia Cup.
Sports News: Just like the Indian men's cricket team during the Asia Cup in Dubai, Harmanpreet Kaur and her team will also not observe the tradition of shaking hands with the Pakistani women's team during their Women's World Cup encounter in Colombo on October 5. India-Pakistan cricket relations are currently at their lowest ebb. According to BCCI sources, the board will act in accordance with government directives.
This means there will be no handshaking tradition at the time of the toss, no photoshoot with the match referee, and no policy of shaking hands even at the end of the game.
India-Pakistan Cricket Relations
India-Pakistan cricket relations are currently going through their worst phase. In this context, the BCCI has clarified that there will be no form of handshake or photoshoot during the toss. The tradition of shaking hands will also not be observed at the end of the match. BCCI sources stated that the women's team will follow the same policy adopted by the men's team in the Asia Cup.
There will be no traditional handshake during the toss and the match. There will be no photoshoot with the match referee, and no formal handshaking procedure between the two teams even after the game concludes."
Waiting for the Toss
Eyes are also on who will conduct the toss for the October 5 match. It is expected that it will be done by a former player or expert from a neutral country. The atmosphere will be completely different from what was seen in the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand. In that tournament, Indian players were seen interacting and taking photos with Bismah Maroof's daughter, but this time, no general interaction is expected between Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan's captain Fatima Sana.
The Indian women's team has started their campaign in this World Cup with a victory. India defeated Sri Lanka by 59 runs under the DLS method. India had set a target of 270 runs for Sri Lanka in 47 overs. In response, the Sri Lankan team was all out for 211 runs in 45.4 overs.
