ICC Women's World Cup 2025: BCCI takes call on no handshake policy for India vs Pakistan clash

BCCI break silence on whether India women will shake hands with the Pakistan women team.

Devajit Saikia, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has refrained from confirming whether the Indian women team will shake hands with the Pakistan women team in the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 match at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday (October 5).

This uncertainty follows the recent Men’s Asia Cup, where India and Pakistan met three times amid rising tensions. The rivalry took an ugly turn after the group stage match on September 14 — their first encounter since the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent Operation Sindoor. During that game, Suryakumar Yadav’s Indian side declined to shake hands with their opponents, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to lodge a complaint with the International Cricket Council (ICC).

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Since post-match handshakes are not compulsory, the ICC took no disciplinary action. India maintained the same stance throughout the tournament, refusing to engage with the players of Pakistan players or officials. The tension peaked when the Indian team declined to receive the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi, who serves as both the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president and PCB chief.

Attention has now turned to the ICC Women’s World Cup, with many curious to see how the players from both nations will conduct themselves. Speaking to BBC Stumped, Saikia made it clear that there has been no change in India’s diplomatic or sporting relations with Pakistan, though he emphasized that all official cricketing procedures would be respected.

“I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that particular hostile country is the same; there is no change in the last week,” Saikia told BBC Stumped.

“India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed. I can only assure that whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket, that will be done. Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment,” he added.

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The Women’s World Cup commenced on September 30, with India securing a commanding 59-run victory over Sri Lanka in the tournament opener. Pakistan, meanwhile, are stationed in Colombo for the entirety of the competition. In accordance with the existing policy — implemented before the Pahalgam terror attack — India and Pakistan only meet at neutral venues during international events. Should Pakistan progress to the semi-finals or finals, those matches will also take place in Colombo.