India to skip handshakes with Pakistan in Women’s World Cup: Reports

Close on the heels of the precedent set by the Indian men's cricket team during the Asia Cup in Dubai, the Indian women's side will also not engage in customary handshakes with Pakistani players during their ICC Women's World Cup clash in Colombo on October 5, Indian media reported today, citing sources.

The Indian women's team has been told not to shake hands with the Pakistani side at the toss or after the game in the Sri Lankan capital, they said.

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"The BCCI is aligned with the government and there will be no customary handshake at the toss, no photo shoot with the match referee, and no end-of-game handshakes. The policy followed by the men will also be implemented by the women," the Indian media said, quoting a senior BCCI source.

With India-Pakistan cricketing ties at their nadir, tensions escalated further after Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to receive the winner's trophy from ACC president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also a minister in the Pakistani government and the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The Indian men's team had faced Pakistan thrice in Dubai during the Asia Cup recently, including in the final which they won by five wickets.