The highly anticipated India-Pakistan women’s cricket match at the upcoming Women’s Cricket World Cup in Colombo has stirred a new debate: will players from both nations engage in traditional handshakes?
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia recently addressed these diplomatic tensions, confirming to BBC Sport that despite the strained relationship – which he noted has “worsened” over the past week – the match will proceed as scheduled.
This escalation in tensions follows an incident at the men’s Asia Cup in the UAE, where ACC chairperson Mohsin Naqvi reportedly delayed awarding the trophy. Indian players had refused to accept the silverware from Naqvi, who is also an interior minister in the Pakistan government, in protest against a terror attack in Pahalgam earlier this year.
Despite this backdrop, Saikia emphasized that all cricketing protocols and MCC regulations would be strictly followed for the upcoming women’s match. “India will play the cricket match against Pakistan on the 5th, and all the cricket protocols will be followed,” he stated.
The tournament, a global showcase for women’s cricket, is being co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Pakistan scheduled to play all its matches on the island nation.
However, when questioned about specific on-field gestures like handshakes or hugs between players, Saikia remained cautious. “Whether there will be a handshake or hugging, I cannot assure you anything right at this moment,” he clarified, underscoring a desire to keep the focus on the game itself, rather than external political factors.
In their respective campaigns, India began with a strong 59-run victory over Sri Lanka, while Pakistan faced a significant setback, suffering a heavy defeat against Bangladesh after being bowled out for just 129 runs.