COLOMBO: The persisting diplomatic tensions between India and Pakistan were evident on the cricket field on Sunday as captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana refrained from the customary pre-match handshake at the toss of their Women’s ODI World Cup fixture.
The gesture or lack thereof is in continuation of a policy reportedly adopted by the Indian men’s team during the recent Asia Cup reflecting the strained political relationship between the two nations. During that tournament the Indian team had avoided shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts in all three encounters.
According to reports the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had advised the women’s team to adhere to the same protocol extending the “no-handshake” policy to this high-stakes World Cup match. The captains maintained a formal distance during the toss before returning to their respective teams.
This marks a significant departure from the atmosphere of camaraderie witnessed during the 2022 edition of the tournament. In a widely praised moment from that encounter Indian players were seen warmly interacting with the daughter of then-Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof an image that had celebrated the spirit of sportsmanship.
The incident at the toss in Colombo underscores how political friction between the two nations is now visibly influencing on-field interactions in the sporting arena.
