Women’s Asia Cup: No Handshake Protocol Continues In India-Pakistan Group A Clash

By Pramit Meher

**No Handshake Protocol Holds True in Women's Asia Cup India-Pakistan Clash** Dubai, Sat: The tense diplomatic waters between India and Pakistan continued on the field as both captains—Harmanpreet Kaur (IND-W) and Fatima Sana (PAK-W)—sidestepped the customary pre-toss handshake during today's Group A clash at the Dubai International Stadium. When former Sri Lanka all-rounder Farveez Maharoof, acting toss moderator, called Fatima forward after she won the flip, the two captains simply nodded and moved on. No clasp of hands, no formal greeting—just business. The protocol remained intact even after the toss concluded. **Background & Context** This no-handshake stance isn't new. It traces back to September 2025 at the Men's Asia Cup in the UAE, where a Suryakumar Yadav-led Indian side avoided handshakes with Salman Ali Agha's Pakistan side across all three matches—including the final in Dubai. Since then, Indian teams at every level (senior, age-group, and women's) have held the line, a policy rooted in diplomatic tensions that surfaced in April 2025. The women followed suit at the ODI World Cup vs Pakistan in Colombo (Oct 2025), and the Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup (Nov 2025) saw the same scene play out. **Team Reaction** India head coach Amol Muzumdar addressed the protocol ahead of the tournament, keeping it brief and professional: "We try to play the best cricket on the ground and off the field stuff, we don't focus on it... One game at a time." Harmanpreet, asked in Dubai whether the protocol would continue, declined to give a definitive answer—but Saturday's toss made the answer clear. The stance remains firmly in place. The match is underway. More on the result to follow. *Source: IANS* Source: Cricketnmore