The build-up to India vs Pakistan in cricket has rarely been quiet, but this time the focus has veered away from batting orders and bowling combinations. Ahead of the women’s clash at the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup on October 5 in Colombo, the buzz is about whether the Indian women’s team will continue the “no handshake” stance that became the headline in the men’s Asia Cup a few days ago.
Handshake row at IND vs PAK
During the Asia Cup, the Indian men’s side avoided handshakes with their Pakistan counterparts across all three encounters. They also refused to collect the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who doubles up as Pakistan’s interior minister.
The reason was simple. India avoided any moment of camaraderie with the Pakistan team after the military flare-up earlier in the year. Pakistani terrorists killed Indian civilians in Pahalgam. Despite boycott calls, the Indian Government gave a nod to the match but there were no handshakes.
Now, according to a report by Telecom Asia Sport, the Pakistan women’s management is preparing for a repeat. Manager Hina Munawar, who earlier became the first woman to manage Pakistan’s men’s side, has sought PCB guidance on how her players should respond if the customary gesture is once again avoided. The men’s team was left stranded after the first time India avoided handshakes.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has no formal protocol on post-match handshakes. It is a matter of tradition rather than rule, leaving both sides free to act according to their own stance. Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur previously has sidestepped the controversy, saying her team is focused solely on cricket and not off-field politics.
While India started the tournament with a nervy win over Sri Lanka, Pakistan begin against Bangladesh on October 2 before meeting India three days later. The India vs Pakistan match will take place in Colombo under a neutral-venue arrangement.
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