IND vs PAK ODI World Cup: No-handshake policies between Women captains continues ahead of match

PTC News Desk: Ahead of the ICC Women's World Cup, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur continued the team's no-handshake policy against arch rivals Pakistan during the toss ceremony. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to bowl first, but what caught everyone's attention was the conspicuous absence of a handshake between the two captains.

Pakistan coach Mike Hesson revealed that India had refused to shake hands following their first meeting, citing political sensitivities and security concerns. The unease reportedly deepened after India declined to receive the winners' trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) president Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman.

The strained diplomatic ties between India and Pakistan have only worsened following the April conflict that erupted after a militant attack on tourists in Pahalgam. In the aftermath, India reportedly reiterated its stance that sporting ties with Pakistan would remain restricted to neutral or global tournaments, with no bilateral series on the horizon. 

The two nations have not played a bilateral series since the 2012-13 season, and Sunday's World Cup fixture in Colombo was staged under a heavy security presence.

Notably, Pakistan are based entirely in Colombo for the duration of the Women's World Cup, while India's group-stage fixtures are split between Guwahati and the Sri Lankan capital. Should Pakistan advance to the semi-final or final, those matches too will be played in Colombo - under the same security and diplomatic arrangements.