India vs Pakistan: BCCI stance on handshakes for Women’s World Cup 2025

With India set to face Pakistan in the Women’s ODI World Cup on 5 October in Colombo, the BCCI has indicated that team interactions will follow laws and regulations only, without optional customs such as handshakes or pre‑toss photos. The position mirrors the recent approach seen at the men’s Asia Cup, where symbolic gestures were consciously avoided amid heightened tensions.

What the BCCI has said

BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stated that India’s relationship with Pakistan “has not changed” in the past week and that the team will adhere to the letter of the game’s regulations. He refrained from confirming any handshake protocol in advance, but emphasised that match conduct would comply with cricket’s rulebook.

“India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed… Whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket will be done.”

Behind the scenes, board guidance to the women’s side has aligned with the men’s stance at the Asia Cup: no customary handshake at toss, no joint photos with the match referee, and no post‑match team‑to‑team handshakes. Because handshakes are a convention rather than a law, refusing them does not breach the Code of Conduct.

Why this matters now

• Context carries weight: The Asia Cup featured a series of flashpoints and a carefully defined Indian position on symbolic interactions. Carrying that clarity into a global ICC event prevents ambiguity at the venue.

• Laws vs customs: Cricket’s Laws do not mandate handshakes; match officials expect professionalism, not specific gestures.

• Focus on cricket: The team’s stated intent is to keep the spotlight on performance, not pageantry, with all required protocols fulfilled.

What to expect in Colombo

• Toss and line‑ups as usual, without the optional pose‑with‑trophy or joint handshake moments.

• Standard post‑match procedures for awards and media, minus customary team‑to‑team greetings.

• Harmanpreet Kaur’s on‑field leadership will anchor a pragmatic, regulation‑first approach, with visible respect for officials and the playing area.

Spirit and standards

The stance separates mandated protocol from ceremony while promising full respect for officials, opponents, and the playing surface. The message is consistent: behave professionally, comply with laws, and let the cricket speak—without gestures that are not part of the game’s requirements.

The spotlight belongs on the players’ skills and the match result; everything else remains strictly by the book.