Will There Be a Handshake Between India and Pakistan Players During ICC Women's World Cup 2026?

Just days before the start of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana shared a moment during the ICC captains’ event. The tournament gets underway in England on June 12, with the most anticipated Group A fixtures set for June 14, when one of the greatest rivalries in cricket will be in action, as India and Pakistan face each other.

During the event, Harmanpreet was taking a selfie when Fatima appeared to move in for what many viewers interpreted as an attempt at a handshake. The brief interaction was captured on camera and quickly spread across social media. With this high-profile encounter on June 14, the IND W vs PAK W handshake controversy has added extra attention ahead of the match.

Will there be Handshake Controversy in Women's T20 World Cup 2026?

The discussion around handshakes between India and Pakistan players gained attention following the Pahalgam terror attack, which affected diplomatic relations between the two countries. The issue later resurfaced during the Asia Cup 2025. After defeating Pakistan, the Indian players did not take part in the post-match handshake.

Reports suggested that the PCB expressed its dissatisfaction and even considered pulling out of the tournament, but the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) later stepped in to prevent the matter from escalating further. The topic remained in focus during the final as well, with Indian players once again avoiding post-match interactions with Pakistan.

Indian women’s cricketers are unlikely to shake hands with Pakistan players during the ICC Women’s World Cup, as the BCCI might continue its policy of avoiding such interactions. The richest cricket board in the world, the BCCI, had earlier advised both the men’s and women’s teams to avoid the usual post-match handshakes with Pakistan players. Since ICC rules do not make post-match handshakes or interactions at the toss compulsory, the teams can complete the match without any greetings.