Exactly one week after the Men's Asia Cup Final, India & Pakistan's women's teams will be battling it out on Sunday, October 05, in the ICC Women's World Cup. With India's Men's team already beating Pakistan thrice in the Continental Cup to clinch the trophy, the India Women's team will naturally be upbeat to beat arch-rivals and extend their dominance. However, rather than on-field reasons, the upcoming match will hog more limelight for off-field reasons.
Notably, India snubbed Pakistan players by indulging in a handshake in the three games in the Asia Cup. With the two teams facing each other in an ICC Women's event, the handshake controversy will yet again be the talking point. With this being an ICC tournament, there will be protocols in play, where both leaders usually shake hands at the toss. Even after the end of the game, players and support staff from both teams will be required to shake hands.
According to sources in BCCI, it has been noted that Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. were not given any instructions regarding refraining from handshake controversy, and a clearer picture could emerge when the game nears its close date.
“It is an ICC event, so there will be protocols in place, which the team will keep in mind,” an official in the know of things said.
With India Women vs Pakistan Women set to face off in Colombo, it would be interesting to see what Kaur and Fatima Sana would do when the toss takes place. With this being a World Cup game, there will be packed crowds and a larger audience watching the game.
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Shobha Pandit gives two cents on how Harmanpreet Kaur & team should approach the game
A couple of cricketers weighed in on how Harmanpreet Kaur & Co. should approach the game and the situation.
“The conflict situation and reality of the day, no doubt, will bring stress to the players, other than the game itself, because of the politics brought into the game. But I will back Team India and Harman in whatever they choose to do – not shake hands, shake hands, hug, not talk,” Shobha Pandit, who played three ODIs in the 1978 World Cup, told The Indian Express. “Having said that, the Pakistan team is also human beings; they play the same game as we do, so maintain restraint and respect.”
Sandhya Agarwal, who played 13 Tests and 21 ODIs for India from 1984 to 1995, wanted Harmanpreet to emulate Suryakumar Yadav. “It is expected to be the same situation as the men’s team. And Harman should face Pakistan exactly like Surya did. But I don’t look at it as any additional pressure,” she said.
