By Trisha Ghosal in Colombo
The saga that could soon inspire a motion picture has shifted to Sri Lankan soil from the United Arab Emirates. In the space of just 20-odd days, this will be the fourth occasion we witness an Indian cricket team take on a Pakistani side. On 5 October, at the R. Premadasa Stadium, the Indian women’s team play their second game of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, against Pakistan.
How massive is the India vs Pakistan game?
Let’s begin with the cricket itself. Pakistan women’s team, on skill and record, have never truly matched India. In ODIs, India and Pakistan have met 11 times, and the scoreline reads 11-0. For those who follow women’s cricket, there is no real rivalry, the hype exists largely because it’s India against Pakistan. Harmanpreet Kaur’s India have just beaten Sri Lanka by 59 runs, and against Pakistan they will look for another clinical show to strengthen their net run rate before tougher fixtures await.
Will the Indian women’s team shake hands?
When Suryakumar Yadav’s men decided against shaking hands, it was clearly not an individual call but a BCCI stance. If that is indeed the board’s position, then it will apply to the women’s side as well. Both teams fall under the same administration, and so logic suggests the same decision will be followed in Colombo. Reports suggest “advice” from senior BCCI officials, but the bottom line is simple: BCCI’s stand is clear, and it will likely remain consistent.
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What does the ICC say?
Interestingly, ICC regulations do not mandate a post-match handshake between opposing teams. It is a convention, not a rule. Which means India, in choosing not to shake hands, are well within their rights. ICC cannot penalise them nor intervene unless the spirit of cricket is breached in a more serious manner.
How will Pakistan women respond?
Unlike their male counterparts, the Pakistan women’s team has shown maturity under leaders like Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar. Who can forget the last World Cup when Bismah’s daughter was welcomed into the Indian dressing room, with Harmanpreet Kaur, Smriti Mandhana, and Jemimah Rodrigues playing with her? Or Sidra Amin’s sixth century, where her gesture of showing “six” was wrongly read as provocation, when it was simply celebration. This time too, maturity is expected from Fatima Sana and her team. With Sana Mir in the commentary box, one of Pakistan’s finest cricketers and a voice of reason, the anticipation is for calm heads, unlike some of the noise around the men’s contests.
The drama, however, is far from over. Colombo will provide the next act.
Also Read: Deepti Sharma’s all-round brilliance sets the tone for India’s World Cup campaign