Birmingham: India captain Harmanpreet Kaur did not shake hands with Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana during the toss ahead of their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup clash, continuing a pattern seen in recent India-Pakistan encounters.
No-handshake moment at Edgbaston
The moment occurred before the Group 1 match in Birmingham, where both captains carried out the toss formalities but avoided the customary handshake. The gesture aligns with an unwritten policy reportedly followed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India in recent times.
This approach has been observed in multiple fixtures between the two nations, both before and after matches, adding an off-field dimension to an already intense rivalry.
Context behind the decision
The no-handshake practice is understood to have been adopted following heightened tensions between the two countries after incidents such as the Pahalgam terror attack and subsequent military developments like Operation Sindoor.
The trend was first noticed in men’s cricket when former India T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav avoided a handshake during the Asia Cup in Dubai. Since then, similar instances have been seen across formats, including women’s matches.
Focus remains on cricket
Despite the attention on off-field gestures, Harmanpreet has consistently maintained that the team’s priority is purely cricket.
“I think we are here for cricket, and we only talk about cricket,” she had said ahead of the match, underlining the team’s intent to stay focused on performance rather than external narratives.
At the toss, Fatima Sana indicated that Pakistan would also have preferred to bat first on what appeared to be a good batting surface. She expressed confidence in her team’s balance while highlighting the inclusion of a debutant in the playing XI.
Rivalry extends beyond the field
India-Pakistan matches have always been high-profile encounters, but recent developments have added layers beyond the game itself. The absence of a handshake, while symbolic, reflects the broader context in which these matches are played.
However, once the game begins, the focus inevitably shifts back to cricket — where both teams aim to assert dominance in one of the sport’s most closely watched rivalries.
Conclusion
While the no-handshake moment at the toss drew attention, it did not overshadow the significance of the contest. With both teams determined to make a strong start in the tournament, the spotlight ultimately remains on their performances on the field, even as off-field narratives continue to follow India-Pakistan clashes.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by News Karnataka staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)