Lance FredericksA high-stakes confrontation between India and Pakistan is scheduled for Sunday in Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the Women’s World Cup. However, doubts remain about whether traditional on-field acts of sportsmanship will occur.
BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia told BBC Stumped: I am unable to predict anything, but our connection with that specific adversarial nation remains unchanged, there has been no alteration in the past week. India will compete against Pakistan in Colombo, and all standard cricket procedures will be adhered to. I can only guarantee that whatever is outlined in the MCC cricket regulations will be followed. Whether there will be handshakes, or any embracing, I cannot promise anything at this time.
Reverberations from the Men's Asia Cup
The ambiguity arises following the 2025 men's Asia Cup, in which India and Pakistan met three times, including in the final that India secured. The tension was evident from the beginning: Pakistan's coach Mike Hesson mentioned that India declined to shake hands during their first match, the first encounter between the two nations since their recent conflict.
The tension persisted throughout the competition and reached a peak when India refused to take the champion's trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board.
"We chose not to accept the trophy from the ACC chairman, who is one of the leading figures in Pakistan," Saikia said to Indian media.
He verified that the BCCI intends to file an official complaint against Naqvi during the ICC meeting in November. According to sources, Naqvi has refused multiple requests to surrender the Asia Cup 2025 trophy.
Women’s team faces scrutiny
Following India's easy 59-run victory against Sri Lanka in the opening match of the tournament held in Guwahati on Tuesday, all-rounder Amanjot Kaur was questioned about whether her team would shake hands with Pakistan. She refrained from providing a straightforward response, avoiding the topic.
Indian journalist Boria Majumdar tweeted that the women's game might reflect the conflicts seen in the men's Asia Cup:
The cricket match between India and Pakistan in Colombo will be more than just a regular game. It will extend the Asia Cup, with only the gender differing. There will be no handshakes, plenty of off-field drama, and increased pressure.
The political elements surrounding the game have turned it into one of the most highly anticipated matches of the Women's World Cup—not solely because of its sporting significance.
Pakistan prepares in Colombo
The Pakistani women's team is staying in Colombo for the entire World Cup, as teams only meet at neutral locations in international competitions. This policy was in place before the April conflict that occurred after a fatal militant attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir.
If Pakistan advances to the semi-finals or final, they will also compete in Colombo. There has been no official statement from the Pakistan Cricket Board about how the team intends to deal with any provocation.
As the competition progresses, everyone will be watching to see if India adheres to the Asia Cup pattern or moves beyond previous conflicts, and how Pakistan reacts in this politically sensitive match.
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