India likely to repeat handshake snub in Women’s World Cup match against Pakistan

KARACHI: Concerns have emerged that India could once again politicise cricket, this time at the ICC Women’s World Cup, where arch-rivals Pakistan and India are set to face off on October 5 in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Indian sports journalist Boria Majumdar suggested in a social media post that the upcoming women’s fixture would carry the same off-field tensions witnessed during the recent Asia Cup, where India’s men’s team drew criticism for unsportsmanlike behaviour. “The India-Pakistan game in Colombo will not be another cricket match. It will be a continuation of the Asia Cup, and the only thing that changes is the gender,” Majumdar wrote in a post on X, hinting at possible refusal of handshakes, heightened drama, and political undertones. “There will be no handshakes, lots of off-field drama and heightened stakes,” the Indian journalist claimed.

During the recently concluded Asia Cup 2025, India, who won the tournament after beating Pakistan in the final, were widely criticised for mixing politics with sport.

Indian players refused to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts in the three encounters during the tournament. Monitoring Desk