India Maintains No Handshake Policy in 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup Clash with Pakistan

On Sunday, when India’s women’s cricket team takes on Pakistan in a World Cup league match in Colombo, players will forgo the customary post-match handshakes. This decision follows directives from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), as confirmed to Sportstar.

This action mirrors the recent choice by India’s men’s team during the Asia Cup, where they also abstained from shaking hands with Pakistani players. The International Cricket Council (ICC) guidelines for the Women’s World Cup don’t mandate handshakes, permitting teams to opt out as long as their behavior remains within the spirit of the game.

Amid heightened political tensions after a tragic terror attack in Pahalgam which claimed 26 Indian lives, and the subsequent Operation Sindoor, India faced Pakistan three times during the Asia Cup, consistently avoiding handshakes. Moreover, after clinching the Asia Cup title, the Indian team declined the trophy presentation from ACC chief Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister.

Since the Champions Trophy earlier this year, India and Pakistan have been competing at neutral venues for ICC and ACC events, an arrangement set to continue until 2027. Consequently, Pakistan’s matches for the Women’s World Cup 2025 are scheduled to be held in Colombo.

Published on Oct 01, 2025