There were no handshakes between the two sides ahead of the ICC Women’s World Cup clash (Screengrabs)

The much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the ICC Women’s World Cup on Sunday began on a tense note, with captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana choosing not to shake hands at the toss. The lack of the traditional gesture mirrored the growing unease between the two sides following recent controversies in men’s cricket. The match, being played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, comes amid heightened political and sporting tension. India entered the contest with confidence after a 59-run victory over Sri Lanka in their opening game, while Pakistan were looking to recover from a heavy defeat to Bangladesh, where they were bowled out for just 129. Ahead of the fixture, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia had acknowledged that relations between India and Pakistan had “worsened” over the past week following Asia Cup chairperson Mohsin Naqvi’s trophy delay incident. Speaking to BBC Sport, Saikia said, “India will play the cricket match against Pakistan on the 5th, and all the cricket protocols will be followed.” However, he remained non-committal on gestures of sportsmanship, adding, “Whether there will be a handshake or hugging, I cannot assure you anything right at this moment.” Former India cricketer and JioStar expert Saba Karim had also hinted that the players would maintain the same stance as the men’s team during the Asia Cup. “The BCCI has made its stance very clear. The Indian women’s team will behave in the same manner as the men’s team did in the Asia Cup. I don’t think they will shake hands with the Pakistani cricketers,” Karim said during a Media Day interaction ahead of the match. Karim also played down the idea of the encounter being India’s toughest test of the tournament. “No, not at all. The toughest games will be against England, Australia, and New Zealand. Pakistan came through the qualifiers. Facing a side like India, it will be difficult for them. India are a far superior team,” he said. Discussing the conditions in Colombo, he noted, “The wickets are low and the ball turns. Pakistan struggled in their first match against Bangladesh. India have effective spinners like Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, and Shree Charani… India will get that advantage.”

While the political undertones have dominated headlines, India’s focus remains firmly on cricket. As for the match itself, Pakistan won the toss, and skipper Fatima Sana opted to bowl citing the overcast conditions.