IND vs PAK: India, Pakistan captains refuse handshake during toss at Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 match
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana refused to shake hands at the toss of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 group match at the Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday.
The move comes in the wake of India’s men’s team deciding not to shake hands with Pakistan players during the just-concluded Asia Cup. It was understood that the women’s team, too, had been advised by the BCCI not to shake hands with Pakistan players.
The Women’s Cricket World Cup guidelines set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) do not make handshakes between players compulsory, and action can only be taken against teams or players if their conduct doesn’t uphold the spirit of the game.
Amid rising political tensions following the Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 Indians, and subsequently Operation Sindoor, India and Pakistan faced each other thrice in the Asia Cup, and the Indian team refused to shake hands on all occasions.
Since the Champions Trophy earlier this year, India and Pakistan have been playing in neutral venues during ICC and ACC events, an arrangement that will continue till 2027. As a result, Pakistan will play all its Women’s World Cup 2025 matches in Colombo.
Published on Oct 05, 2025
