Following the precedent established by the Indian men’s cricket team during the recent Asia Cup in Dubai, Harmanpreet Kaur and her squad, often dubbed the ‘Women in Blue,’ are set to forgo the customary handshakes with their Pakistani rivals. This decision will come into effect during their highly anticipated Women’s World Cup clash scheduled for October 5 in Colombo.
The already strained cricketing relationship between India and Pakistan has reached a new low. Tensions significantly escalated after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Mohsin Naqvi reportedly refused to present the winner’s trophy to India’s Suryakumar Yadav following the Asia Cup in Dubai. This incident further exacerbated the diplomatic chill, especially since the Indian men’s team had already chosen not to accept the trophy from any Pakistani official.
A senior Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) source, speaking anonymously, confirmed the stringent stance: “The BCCI operates in complete alignment with the government’s foreign policy. Consequently, there will be no traditional handshakes at the toss, no joint photo-sessions with the match referee, and absolutely no exchange of pleasantries at the conclusion of the game. The protocol observed by the men’s team will be strictly adhered to by our women’s side as well.”
Adding another layer of intrigue to the upcoming match in Colombo, observers will keenly watch who is appointed to conduct the coin toss. It is widely anticipated that the role will be filled by a former player or a neutral pundit from a third country, rather than an official from either competing nation, to avoid any further diplomatic friction.
This atmosphere stands in stark contrast to the friendly scenes witnessed during the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand, where heartwarming images of Indian players interacting affectionately with then-Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s infant daughter became a viral sensation. However, this time around, fans should expect a much cooler reception, with India’s Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan’s Fatima Sana unlikely to share even the most basic pleasantries on the field.