The highly anticipated Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 is set to feature a significant match between India and Pakistan in Colombo this Sunday. This fixture comes amidst recent controversy following three India-Pakistan clashes in the Asia Cup 2025, which drew considerable attention.
During the men’s Asia Cup final, the Indian team, led by captain Suryakumar Yadav, notably declined to exchange handshakes with Pakistani players and refused to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi. This incident has raised questions about how Harmanpreet Kaur, captain of the Indian women’s team, will approach interactions with her Pakistani counterparts.
When questioned about whether the Indian women’s team would follow the men’s precedent, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia stated, “I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that particular hostile country remains unchanged; there has been no shift in the last week.”
Saikia further assured that “India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed. I can only confirm that whatever is stipulated in the MCC regulations of cricket will be adhered to. However, I cannot guarantee whether there will be handshakes or hugging at this moment.”
Meanwhile, in other Women’s World Cup action, Bangladesh recently secured a dominant seven-wicket victory over Pakistan in Colombo, chasing down Pakistan’s total of 129 with 18.5 overs to spare.
Rubya Haider, making an impressive WODI debut, guided Bangladesh to victory with an unbeaten half-century. The Bangladeshi bowling attack, spearheaded by Marufa Akter, made an early impact by taking crucial wickets.
Marufa expressed her team’s excitement, stating, “We are thrilled to get a win under our belt in our first outing. There was a lot of support from my teammates. Special credit goes to our team analyst who provided valuable input leading into the game. We displayed great energy on the field and will take many positives from this match.”
Bangladesh’s spin bowlers were particularly effective, with Nahida Akter claiming two quick wickets to leave Pakistan struggling at 47-4 in 14 overs. Shorna Akter further tightened the screws, taking three wickets for just five runs in 3.3 overs.
Rubya Haider’s masterful batting featured precise cut shots between point and cover, demonstrating excellent control throughout her innings without needing to resort to aerial shots.
Pakistan’s batting performance was largely disappointing, with only two players managing to score more than 20 runs. They now face the critical challenge of adapting to Colombo’s slow pitch conditions for their upcoming matches.
Despite the team’s struggles, Diana Baig, who represents Pakistan in both cricket and football, showed promise with her bowling. However, the low target meant her efforts, though commendable, couldn’t alter the match’s outcome.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana acknowledged the defeat, saying, “We just lost too many wickets early on and never recovered. We need to put this defeat behind us now and bounce back stronger. We have many young players in our ranks, and this World Cup is their first major tournament; hopefully, they will learn from their mistakes.”
India, for their part, have already commenced their World Cup journey successfully, securing a victory against Sri Lanka in their opening match.