(Sports Correspondent: Imran Sohail)
Women’s World Cup 2025: BCCI Says No Handshake Guarantee Ahead of Pakistan-India Clash
KARACHI: The much-anticipated Pakistan vs India clash in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 is just days away, but controversy is already brewing. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has stated that there is no assurance of handshakes between players of the two sides when they meet in Colombo on October 5.
BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia, in an interview with the BBC, said that India will follow cricketing protocols as per Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) regulations, but handshakes are not guaranteed.
“India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed. Whatever is in MCC regulations will be done. But whether there will be handshakes or not, I cannot assure anything right now,” Saikia stated.
Political Tensions Overshadowing Sports
This comes after India’s men’s team sparked backlash during the recent Asia Cup, where they refused to shake hands with Pakistan players and even declined to receive the winners’ trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who also heads the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
Indian sports journalist Boria Majumdar also hinted on social media that the upcoming Women’s World Cup encounter will carry the same tensions.
“The India-Pakistan game in Colombo will not just be another cricket match. Expect no handshakes, off-field drama, and heightened stakes,” Majumdar posted.
PCB’s Message to Players
Meanwhile, sources within the PCB revealed that Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has given a clear message to the women’s team: focus on the game and express yourselves freely. The chairman had delivered a similar message to the men’s team before the Asia Cup final.
High-Stakes Encounter
With political undertones once again overshadowing cricket, the October 5 clash between Pakistan and India promises to be one of the most talked-about fixtures of the Women’s World Cup 2025. Beyond the cricketing rivalry, fans around the world will be watching closely to see whether sportsmanship can rise above politics.
