India to avoid handshake with Pakistan in ICC Women’s World Cup 2025; PCB reacts

The “handshake boycott” between India and Pakistan from the Asia Cup 2025 is expected to continue with the women’s teams as well in the Women’s World Cup 2025. It remains uncertain whether Harmanpreet Kaur and India’s women cricketers will avoid handshakes ahead of their clash against Pakistan.

India and Pakistan faced each other three times in 15 days during the recently concluded Asia Cup, but the tournament was overshadowed by on-field and off-field controversies. The issue began when the Indian team avoided handshakes with Pakistan players after their group-stage match.

Notably, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) sent several emails to the ICC regarding the handshake controversy. The Men in Blue maintained their stance in the following encounters and, led by Suryakumar Yadav, clinched the Asia Cup 2025 title by defeating Pakistan in the final.

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Pakistan Women’s Team Manager Seeks PCB Guidance Ahead of India Clash in World Cup

According to Telecom Asia Sport, Pakistan women’s team manager Hina Munawar has consulted the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for guidance on the players’ conduct ahead of the group-stage clash against India on October 5 in Colombo.

This comes amid expectations that Harmanpreet Kaur’s side may continue the “handshake boycott” first seen in the men’s team following the Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives.

Other reports from India indicate that neither the PCB nor the BCCI has contacted the ICC regarding the handshake issue. The ICC does not have any formal protocols governing handshakes, which remain a traditional gesture observed by captains at the toss and by teams at the conclusion of matches.

We Can Control Only One Thing - Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur

India Women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur chose to remain non-committal when asked about the Indo-Pak controversies during the Asia Cup at the ICC pre-tournament captains’ press conference. The BCCI had not briefed her on the matter, and the team is concentrating solely on cricket.

“Well, we can only control one thing which is playing cricket on the field and we are not thinking of other things," Harmanpreet said.

“Because as cricketers, we can only control the things we have in our hand. But in other parts, I have zero control, and I don’t even take those things into my mind. We don’t even discuss those things in the dressing room. We are only here to play cricket and our focus is only on cricket," she added.

India-Pakistan Clashes Capture Global Attention in ICC and ACC Tournaments

The India-Pakistan clashes capture global attention, despite being played in ICC and ACC tournaments. The India Women’s team has faced Pakistan in just 11 ODIs and 16 T20Is. The Women in Blue have won all ODIs and lost only three T20Is.

Pakistan had earlier opted out of traveling to India for the quadrennial event over security concerns, leading to the tournament being hosted in Colombo, with ICC protocols strictly regulating player interactions.

India began the Women’s World Cup 2025 on a positive note, defeating Sri Lanka by 59 runs at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati on September 30. India posted 269/8 in 47 overs and restricted Sri Lanka to 211/8 in a rain-curtailed match. Deepti Sharma scored a fifty and took three wickets.

Also read: Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill deemed unfit for India after disappointing Asia Cup 2025