BCCI silent on handshakes ahead of India-Pakistan clash
The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has provided no clarity on whether Indian players will engage in handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts during the upcoming Women’s World Cup fixture in Colombo on Sunday, October 5. The issue has come under scrutiny following last month’s Asia Cup, where the absence of handshakes between the two teams sparked controversy and formal complaints.
Speaking to BBC Stumped, BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia stopped short of making any assurances about gestures of goodwill. “I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that particular hostile country is the same; there is no change in the last week,” Saikia said.
He added: “India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed. I can only assure that whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket, that will be done. Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment.”
Reports suggest Indian players told to avoid handshakes
While Saikia publicly left the matter open, The Indian Express reported a contrasting stance, citing BCCI sources. According to the paper, Indian players had already been instructed not to shake hands with their Pakistani counterparts before departing for Sri Lanka.
“The team won’t be shaking hands with the Pakistan team during the World Cup. The team has been informed by the BCCI bosses about this. The Indian board will stand by its players,” the sources told The Indian Express.
Handshake row continues from Asia Cup to Women’s World Cup
The uncertainty surrounding Sunday’s match comes in the aftermath of a series of contentious encounters at the Men’s Asia Cup in the UAE. During the September 14 group-stage match, Indian players did not participate in handshakes with Pakistan, prompting the Pakistan Cricket Board to file a complaint with the International Cricket Council.
The tensions carried into the final, where India defeated Pakistan but declined to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council president and PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi. The unusual presentation added to the perception of strained relations between the two boards.
India and Pakistan limited to neutral venues
As a result of political tensions, India and Pakistan only face each other in global events and at neutral venues. Pakistan is based in Colombo for the Women’s World Cup, with the India-Pakistan group stage match being held in that city. Should Pakistan advance to the semi-finals or final, those matches will also take place in Colombo.
The October 5 clash between the two rivals is expected to be one of the tournament’s most closely watched fixtures.
