Tense start at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2025’s most anticipated match — India vs Pakistan — began under a cloud of tension and symbolism at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo. Even before a ball was bowled, the encounter stirred headlines as Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana refrained from the traditional handshake at the toss.
The gesture — or rather, its absence — continued the no-handshake policy seen during recent India-Pakistan men’s matches. The decision reflected the frosty diplomatic and sporting relations between the two nations, still strained in the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack and Operation Sindoor.
Ahead of the Women’s World Cup, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) had hinted at maintaining the same stance as the men’s side. BCCI secretary Devajit Saikia confirmed that the match would proceed under all formal cricketing norms, “India will play the cricket match against Pakistan on the 5th, and all the cricket protocols will be followed,” he told BBC Sport.
However, he left gestures of sportsmanship open-ended, noting, “Whether there will be a handshake or hugging, I cannot assure you anything right at this moment,” he added.
Former India cricketer and JioStar expert Saba Karim had also anticipated this outcome, speaking at the Media Day interaction, “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.”
No-handshake, no smiles — and no surprises
When the two captains walked out for the toss, the atmosphere was stiff. Neither player acknowledged the other, with both maintaining a professional but distant demeanor — echoing the men’s Asia Cup scenes from a couple of weeks back.
Karim had earlier suggested that Pakistan wouldn’t pose India’s toughest challenge, “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,” Karim added.
He also highlighted conditions in Colombo that would favor India’s spinners: “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,” he continued.
Toss confusion sparks fresh drama
If the pre-match handshake snub wasn’t enough, the toss itself added another layer of controversy. As Harmanpreet Kaur flipped the coin, Fatima Sana was heard clearly calling “tails” on the microphone. However, match referee Shandre Fritz and broadcaster Mel Jones both announced “heads.” To Sana’s surprise, the coin indeed landed on heads — but instead of correcting the mix-up, she remained silent and accepted the toss win.
No handshake between India and Pakistan women’s team captains during the toss ahead of their first World Cup face-off.
Also, didn’t Fatima Sana call tails? pic.twitter.com/XtsUQxfv1a
— Abdul Wasey Naik (@WaseyNaik) October 5, 2025
The incident escaped the immediate notice of commentators but was caught by alert fans online. Clips of the toss went viral within minutes, sparking fierce debate over officiating standards and fairness in such a high-profile fixture.
Pakistan Women’s captain, Fatima Sana chose to bowl first after the disputed toss, explaining at the toss, “We’re going to bowl first; it looks like there could be some moisture on the wicket. One change for us – our confidence is great, hopefully we’ll play better today. Anything under 250 could be a good chase.”
India’s dominance seals the day
Once the game began, India let their cricket do the talking. Batting first, the Women in Blue posted 247 before being bowled out — a solid total on a turning track. In reply, Pakistan faltered under pressure, dismissed for just 159. India clinched the match by 88 runs, maintaining their unbeaten record against Pakistan in women’s ODIs and underscoring their dominance in the rivalry.
While off-field controversies — the handshake snub and the toss confusion — drew early attention, the final outcome reflected India’s composure and control. Harmanpreet’s team not only handled the tension with discipline but also delivered a professional performance to strengthen their position in the World Cup standings.
