Handshake or Hardline? India-Pak Women Cricketers Clash Beyond the Field
In a striking moment in the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, captains of India and Pakistan avoided shaking hands at the toss and players from both sides continued training after the match ended. What was traditionally a simple gesture of respect and friendship has become a symbol of the complex relationship between the two countries.
Breaking Tradition
Cricket has long prided itself on the “spirit of the game”, where shaking hands before and after matches represents sportsmanship beyond competition. The refusal to participate in this ritual was particularly notable on the global stage of the World Cup. For many, this has raised questions about whether political tensions should trump sporting etiquette.
India and Pakistan’s cricket ties have been strained for decades, often reflecting wider geopolitical realities. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has unofficially discouraged goodwill gestures towards Pakistan since tensions have risen in recent years. By refusing to shake hands, the women’s team mirrored the attitude of their male counterparts, signaling solidarity with national sentiment rather than sporting tradition.
Voices from the Cricket Community
Former international cricketers Diana Eduljee and WV Raman (who also coached the women’s team in the past) chose not to comment on the matter. But other voices that speak only of Indian cricket have a different take on the issue.
Former coach Purnima Rau said: “After Covid, we also stopped shaking hands with friends 😊… as long as a competitive game continues and we maintain the spirit of the game on the field, I am happy. The sport will recover on its own. Give us time.”
Former cricketer Nilima Joglekar (Barve) emphasized: “Cricket first. That’s what captain Harman said. We should leave things that don’t really matter to how the game is played. Let’s leave it aside as traditional rituals and give importance to how the game is played as much as they can. Dropping the handshake doesn’t really matter. As long as they follow the rules of the game, why should you care about it.”
These perspectives underscore a pragmatic approach: focusing on the quality of cricket rather than symbolic gestures.
Split Reactions
Fans and commentators are still divided. Supporters of the decision argue that cricket cannot be separated from the political context and that symbolic gestures are important. Critics lament the loss of cricket’s role as a bridge between nations and argue that players must uphold the spirit of the game regardless of politics. Greater Meaning This incident underlines how deeply intertwined cricket and geopolitics are in South Asia. While the players maintained their professionalism on the field, the absence of handshakes revealed the weight of national identity and political symbolism in even the smallest gestures.
Refusing to shake hands at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup was more than just a breach of etiquette; It was a statement shaped by history and politics. But as voices like Rau and Joglekar remind us, the essence of cricket is how the game is played. Perhaps over time the sport itself will heal the divisions and reaffirm that cricket is ultimately about competition, skill and respect on the field.
