BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia has declined to comment on if the coming India-Pakistan showdown at the Women’s World Cup 2025 will include traditional handshakes among players. The high-octane match will take place on Sunday, October 5, at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium.
The issue of post-match etiquette came into prominence after recent hostilities during the Men’s Asia Cup, when the two teams clashed three times in the backdrop of increased political tension following the Pahalgam terror strike and India’s following Operation Sindoor. During the tournament, India refused to shake hands with the Pakistan team following their September 14 group-stage match, which created furore and led to a complaint lodged by the PCB with the ICC. As handshakes were not included in the official playing conditions, the ICC didn’t take any action, and India stuck to its position during the tournament.
It was made deeper when the Indian side declined to take the trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the PCB chairman and Pakistan’s Interior Minister. Against such a background, everyone’s attention has now shifted to the women’s match.
In an interview with BBC Stumped, Saikia said he could not predict how things will go given the unaltered state of bilateral relations but emphasized that India will operate strictly within the law.
“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.
If his words are anything to go by, handshakes are not likely since there is no such provision in the ICC rulebook. The Women’s World Cup got underway on September 30 with India getting their campaign underway with a dominating 59-run victory over Sri Lanka. Pakistan, on the other hand, are based in Colombo throughout the tournament under current neutral-venue setup, which was established prior to the Pahalgam attack. If they advance to the semi-finals or the final, those too will be hosted in the Sri Lankan capital.
