Colombo, October 5, 2025: The much-debated handshake controversy between India and Pakistan cricket teams resurfaced on Sunday during the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, after Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur appeared to avoid shaking hands with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana at the toss ahead of their high-voltage clash at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
After winning the toss, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana elected to bowl first and proceeded to the match presenter for the customary exchange. However, as the toss concluded, Harmanpreet Kaur walked past her Pakistani counterpart without offering a handshake, in what appeared to be a deliberate move.
The incident quickly reignited memories of the “handshake saga” that dominated headlines during the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025, when similar scenes unfolded multiple times before and after matches between the two arch-rivals — including during the group stage, Super Four, and the final.
Ahead of Sunday’s game, both captains maintained visible distance, refraining from any form of interaction during the pre-match proceedings.
Throughout the ongoing tournament, the Indian women’s team — despite maintaining a perfect winning streak — has consistently skipped post-match handshakes with Pakistan players, opting instead to celebrate within their dressing room.
In an earlier group-stage fixture, Pakistan’s players were seen waiting on the field for the traditional post-match greeting, only for the Indian team to walk off the field directly, shutting the dressing-room door behind them.
That episode led Pakistan team manager Naveed Akram Cheema to file an official complaint with the match referee Andy Pycroft, accusing him of failing to uphold sportsmanship standards. According to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Pycroft later termed the matter a “miscommunication” and issued an apology.
Following repeated incidents, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has reportedly shown willingness to investigate the recurring handshake controversies between the two sides.
Meanwhile, sections of the Indian media had reported before the Super Four match that the Indian team had decided to continue its “no-handshake” policy with Pakistan, citing “non-sporting reasons.”
India and Pakistan women’s teams have met 11 times in One Day Internationals (ODIs), with India winning all encounters — leaving Pakistan still in search of their maiden victory in the format.
