India and Pakistan will square off in the Women's World Cup on October 5 in Colombo.
The Men in Blue faced their arch-rivals three times in the continental event and emerged victorious on all occasions, including the final in Dubai last Sunday (September 28).
The major talking point from all three clashes was Team India’s decision to avoid shaking hands with the Pakistani players, who also engaged in provocative gestures.
After the final, the victorious Indian team refused to accept the trophy and medal from the ACC and PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi, who posted anti-India sentiments on social media throughout the tournament.
Now, a report published in The Indian Express claims that the Indian women’s team too has been advised by the BCCI not to shake hands with Pakistan’s players during their ICC Women’s World Cup league game in Colombo on October 5.
The message to avoid handshakes was reportedly delivered just before the women’s team departed for Sri Lanka on Wednesday (October 1).
“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 said, as quoted by the newspaper.
Harmanpreet Kaur and her troops travelled to Sri Lanka to lock horns with Pakistan since the BCCI and PCB have decided to play each other only at neutral venues. Incidentally, this will be the fourth consecutive Sunday featuring India-Pakistan cricket matches in a politically charged atmosphere.
India and Pakistan only compete in ICC and ACC events due to political tensions between the two countries and the last bilateral series between the two teams happened in 2012-13.