The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has confirmed that Team India will strictly follow cricketing rules in their Women’s World Cup 2025 clash against Pakistan in Colombo. However, traditional gestures such as handshakes, photo ops, or post-match mingling remain uncertain.
BCCI’s Stand on Handshakes
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told BBC Stumped that India will play the match as per cricket protocols but gave no assurances on customary interactions.
“I can only assure that whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket will be done. Whether there will be handshakes or hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment,” Saikia said.
Meanwhile, PTI quoted a BCCI official saying the men’s team policy from the Asia Cup will extend to the women too — meaning no handshakes at the toss, no photo with the referee, and no post-match exchanges.
Pakistan Camp Reacts
Reports from Pakistan suggest the Women in Green are preparing for India to skip handshakes once again. Team manager Hina Munawar has reportedly sought guidance from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Neither board has taken the matter to the ICC, which has no official handshake rule. Though customary, it is not a mandatory cricket protocol.
Harmanpreet’s Focus on Cricket
Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur has not been briefed by the BCCI on any specific stance. At the ICC captains’ press meet, she avoided controversy, saying,
“As cricketers, we can only control what happens on the field. We don’t think about things outside our control. Our focus is only on cricket.”
The Bigger Picture
India and Pakistan’s women have faced each other sparingly — 11 times in ODIs and 16 times in T20Is — with India completely dominant in the 50-over format and Pakistan managing just three wins in T20Is.
The uncertainty over handshakes highlights how political tensions continue to spill into cricket, but on Sunday, the spotlight will firmly remain on the cricketing battle in Colombo.
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