India Women line up against Pakistan Women in Colombo on 5 October, yet even the simple post-match handshake remains uncertain. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia, speaking on the BBC’s Stumped podcast, admitted he could not predict how Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will greet their rivals.
“Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything [at] this moment,” he said. “I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that particular hostile country is the same. There is no change in the last week.”
It is a familiar scenario. India’s men declined to shake hands with Pakistan during all three Asia Cup meetings last month. The final became even more awkward when India refused to collect the trophy from Pakistan’s interior minister—and PCB chairman—Mohsin Naqvi. A 90-minute stalemate followed and, in the end, no one actually lifted the silverware.
Saikia stressed the women will still follow the sport’s formal framework. “India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed,” he said. “I can only assure that whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket – that will be done.”
Players from either side have kept their thoughts private so far, perhaps wisely. On the field, India start as favourites: Harmanpreet and Smriti Mandhana have both scored heavily in Sri Lankan conditions, while Pakistan lean on Bismah Maroof’s experience and Nida Dar’s canny off-spin.
Yet, much as we love the numbers, the focus might end up on what happens after the final ball. A routine exchange of handshakes used to be the dullest part of the day; lately it feels like a diplomatic tightrope. Whether the teams line up, nod politely or simply walk past each other, the cricket itself deserves to be the headline. Here’s hoping the match, not the politics, does the talking.
