Colombo, October 2 – The buzz around the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 isn’t just about the cricket. With India and Pakistan set to face off this Sunday (October 5) at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, everyone’s wondering one thing: will the teams actually shake hands after the game?
The Backdrop: Asia Cup Tensions Still Fresh
This question isn’t coming out of nowhere. Remember the Men’s Asia Cup last month? India and Pakistan clashed three times, and after the September 14 group stage match, things got really tense. The Indian side, led by Suryakumar Yadav, skipped the traditional post-match handshakes.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) wasn’t thrilled and went straight to the ICC with a complaint. But since handshakes aren’t actually mandatory under the rules, the ICC didn’t take action. India stood its ground for the rest of the tournament—no handshakes, no friendly exchanges, and even skipped receiving the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who just so happens to be both the ACC president and PCB chief.
What BCCI Is Saying Now
So, what about the women’s clash on October 5? Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), is keeping things pretty vague. Speaking to BBC Stumped, he made it clear that nothing has really changed in India’s stance toward Pakistan.
“I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that particular hostile country is the same; there is no change in the last week,” Saikia said. He did, however, promise that India will follow all official cricket protocols: “Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment.”
India Starts Strong, Pakistan Waits
The Women’s World Cup kicked off on September 30, and India wasted no time making a statement—beating Sri Lanka by 59 runs in the opening match. Pakistan, meanwhile, are based in Colombo for the entire tournament.
Under the current policy, India and Pakistan only meet at neutral venues. So, if Pakistan makes it to the semi-finals or even the final, those matches will also stay in Colombo.
The Bigger Picture
Beyond cricket, this isn’t just about sportsmanship. It’s another reminder of how politics and sport are constantly overlapping when India and Pakistan meet. Fans may tune in for the cricketing action, but off-the-field gestures—or the lack of them—will grab just as many headlines.
Whether the women break the ice with a handshake or stick to the no-contact policy, all eyes will be on Colombo this Sunday
