The highly anticipated ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match between India Women and Pakistan Women will be played on October 5 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. While the focus is clearly on the cricket rivalry, the buildup to the match has been overshadowed by the ongoing handshake dispute between the two countries.
According to Sportstar, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has told the Indian women’s squad not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts on Sunday.
This decision comes after a series of similar instances at the Asia Cup 2025, in which the Indian men’s team denied post-match handshakes with Pakistani players three times due to rising political tensions.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has said that handshakes are not required by tournament regulations. Teams or players who breach the Spirit of the Game, on the other hand, may face disciplinary action.
With tensions high following the Pahalgam terror attack and accompanying Operation Sindoor, India and Pakistan’s tense diplomatic relations have spilt over into cricket. Notably, during the Asia Cup final, the Indian team declined to collect the trophy from ACC President Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister.
Since the Champions Trophy earlier this year, both countries have only faced each other at neutral venues in ICC and ACC tournaments. This arrangement will continue until 2027, meaning Pakistan will play all their Women’s World Cup fixtures in Colombo.
On the cricketing front, India Women have made a strong start to their campaign, defeating hosts Sri Lanka Women by 59 runs in the tournament opener. Their batting unit looked sharp, while the bowlers executed plans efficiently. Meanwhile, Pakistan Women are set to open their campaign against Bangladesh Women on October 2.
As both teams prepare for Sunday’s clash, cricketing action promises to be intense, but it is the off-field tensions that continue to dominate the narrative.
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