🤝 India Likely to Repeat Handshake Snub in Women’s World Cup Clash with Pakistan 2025
🌍 Cricket Beyond Boundaries
The India vs Pakistan rivalry is one of the most high-voltage sporting spectacles in the world. Scheduled for October 5, 2025, in Colombo, Sri Lanka, the ICC Women’s World Cup clash between these two cricketing giants is already making headlines—not just for cricketing reasons but due to the political undertones that have overshadowed Indo-Pak cricket in recent months.
Concerns have surfaced that India’s women’s team may follow in the footsteps of their men’s side, which sparked global criticism during the ACC Men’s T20 Asia Cup 2025 by repeatedly snubbing handshakes with Pakistan and refusing to accept the trophy from ACC President and PCB Chairman Mohsin Naqvi.
But what does this mean for the Women’s World Cup? Will the focus shift from bat and ball to politics and propaganda? Let’s break it down.
📰 Background – The Asia Cup 2025 Trophy Controversy
During the Asia Cup 2025 final in Dubai, India’s men’s team defeated Pakistan but created chaos by refusing to collect medals and the trophy from Mohsin Naqvi. Instead of celebrating victory, the post-match ceremony was overshadowed by political gestures and unsportsmanlike conduct.
Key Incidents from Asia Cup 2025:
- ❌ Indian players refused handshakes with Pakistan’s team in all three encounters.
- 🏆 India declined to accept the Asia Cup trophy from Naqvi.
- 🗣️ BCCI officials later confirmed this was a political stance, not a cricketing one.
- 📺 The standoff caused a one-hour delay in the closing ceremony, with broadcasters announcing the trophy would not be presented.
This episode has now spilled over into the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, raising fears of another handshake snub and politicised spectacle.
👩🏏 India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 – The Stakes Are Higher
The upcoming clash between India Women and Pakistan Women on October 5 in Colombo is not just about World Cup points. It’s being framed as a continuation of the Asia Cup controversy, according to journalist Boria Majumdar, who claimed:
“The India-Pakistan game in Colombo will not be just another cricket match. It will be a continuation of the Asia Cup, and the only thing that changes is the gender.”
This statement has fueled speculation that India’s women’s team may refuse handshakes, reject ceremonial traditions, and potentially use the stage for political messaging, echoing their male counterparts.
⚔️ Why the Handshake Snub Matters in Cricket
In cricket, the post-match handshake is more than a gesture—it symbolizes sportsmanship, respect, and unity. A refusal to engage in this ritual is seen as a direct insult to opponents, officials, and even the spirit of cricket itself.
- ✅ Handshake = Respect: Acknowledges opponents regardless of the result.
- ✅ Global Tradition: From school-level cricket to ICC World Cups, handshakes reflect fair play.
- ❌ Refusing Handshakes: Signals hostility, politics, and undermines cricket’s neutral spirit.
If India’s women’s team repeats the snub, it risks damaging women’s cricket’s image at a time when the ICC is trying to elevate the women’s game to global prominence.
🔥 Political Undertones – Cricket Caught in Crossfire
Cricket between India and Pakistan has always carried political baggage, but 2025 has been particularly explosive.
Key Developments:
- 🇮🇳 BCCI stance: Refusing trophies from Pakistani officials.
- 🇵🇰 PCB rebuttal: Mohsin Naqvi dismissed Indian claims as “cheap propaganda.”
- 🌐 Social media wars: Fans from both nations clashing online, trending hashtags like #AsiaCup2025, #CricketPolitics, and #SpiritOfCricket.
- 🏟️ ICC pressure: Calls for intervention to prevent politics from ruining the Women’s World Cup.
The fear now is that the women’s fixture—which should be about batting brilliance, bowling heroics, and tactical cricket—may become yet another political drama.
📝 Cricketory Insights & Analysis
- The India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 clash is no longer just a cricket match—it’s a litmus test for cricket diplomacy.
- If India repeats the handshake snub, it will deepen tensions between BCCI and PCB, possibly pushing ICC into action.
- For Pakistan Women, showing professionalism and restraint could win them not just the game but also global respect.
- For India Women, allowing politics to overshadow the match could backfire on team morale and international reputation.
- Social media sentiment suggests fans are tired of politics in cricket—hashtags like #CricketNotPolitics and #SpiritOfCricket are already trending.
👉 Cricketory Takeaway: This game is bigger than points—it’s about whether cricket remains a sport of respect or turns into a tool of propaganda.
📊 Spotlight Key Takeaways
- India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 live
- Women’s World Cup handshake snub news
- Mohsin Naqvi Asia Cup controversy
- India Pakistan cricket rivalry politics
- Asia Cup 2025 trophy drama
- ICC Women’s World Cup schedule Colombo
- PCB vs BCCI disputes 2025
- Spirit of cricket debate India Pakistan
🏏 Pakistan Women’s Team – Rising Above Politics?
The Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team, led by Bismah Maroof (captain), faces a difficult dilemma:
- Should they respond to Indian provocations in kind?
- Or should they rise above the politics and focus purely on cricket?
Historically, Pakistan’s women cricketers have emphasized sportsmanship and professionalism, often playing under far tougher conditions than their rivals. In 2025, this clash presents a chance for them to not just win on the field but also win global respect by demonstrating discipline and dignity.
🇮🇳 India Women’s Team – Will Politics Overshadow Cricket?
India’s women’s team, one of the strongest in world cricket, enters the World Cup as a serious title contender. But their preparations are being overshadowed by BCCI’s political stance.
- Will the team follow the BCCI’s hardline policy of trophy rejection and handshake refusal?
- Or will the players prioritize cricket first, politics later?
- How will global fans and the ICC react if the snub repeats?
The pressure is mounting, and this Colombo clash could define India Women’s World Cup campaign narrative.
🌐 ICC’s Role – Time to Step In?
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has long promoted cricket as a politically neutral sport. However, the Asia Cup 2025 chaos exposed ICC’s lack of control over member boards.
Possible ICC Actions:
- 📝 Issue strict guidelines on post-match handshakes and ceremonies.
- ⚖️ Warn boards against politicizing cricket events.
- 🚨 Impose penalties or fines for unsportsmanlike behavior.
- 🌍 Launch campaigns reinforcing “Cricket for Unity”.
If ICC remains silent, the Women’s World Cup 2025 could spiral into a political circus instead of a celebration of women’s cricket.
📺 Fan Reactions – Social Media Explodes
Fans across the globe are already speculating online:
- Pakistani fans: Calling India’s behavior “unsportsmanlike” and “disrespectful.”
- Indian fans: Divided—some support the boycott, others call for “keeping politics out of cricket.”
- Neutral fans: Worried about the spirit of cricket being compromised.
Trending hashtags:
- #INDvsPAKWomen
- #CricketNotPolitics
- #HandshakeSnub
- #WWC2025
- #SpiritOfCricket
📌 Historical Context – India-Pakistan Rivalries & Politics
The India-Pakistan cricket rivalry has often been a political battlefield:
- 🏆 1999 World Cup (England) – India vs Pakistan match amidst Kargil conflict tensions.
- 🏏 2008 Mumbai attacks – Bilateral cricket ties were frozen.
- 🎤 2021 T20 World Cup – Virat Kohli faced political backlash after congratulating Pakistan.
- 🏆 2025 Asia Cup final – Trophy refusal controversy.
Now, the 2025 Women’s World Cup risks being the next chapter in this politicized saga.
🔮 What to Expect on October 5, 2025 – Matchday Predictions
As Colombo gears up for this blockbuster clash, here’s what could unfold:
- Handshake Drama – All eyes will be on the pre- and post-match rituals.
- On-Field Rivalry – Both teams will be under pressure to perform amidst off-field noise.
- Media Frenzy – Indian and Pakistani media will amplify every small gesture.
- Global Reactions – ICC, ex-players, and neutral boards may condemn politics in cricket.
Regardless of the outcome, this match will be remembered not just for runs and wickets but for symbolism, politics, and sportsmanship—or the lack of it.
🏆 Conclusion – Cricket or Politics? The World Will Be Watching
The India vs Pakistan Women’s World Cup clash is no longer just a game—it’s a test of cricket’s soul.
- Will India’s women cricketers repeat the Asia Cup handshake snub?
- Will Pakistan’s women cricketers take the high road and let their game do the talking?
- Will ICC finally draw the line between sports and politics?
On October 5, 2025, the world will be watching Colombo—not just for sixes, wickets, and drama, but for a verdict on whether cricket still belongs to the players and fans, or to politics and propaganda.