Controversy erupts as Jemimah Rodrigues hugs Fatima Sana in Women's Hundred | WATCH
Jemimah Rodrigues (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 01 Aug 2026, 05:57 PMā¢ Read time - 2 mins
India's middle-order bat Jemimah Rodrigues' hug with Pakistan's skipper Fatima Sana in match No. 13 of the Women's Hundred has sparked a huge controversy. Rodrigues, who is representing Southern Brave, shared a hug with Birmingham Phoenix's Sana at the end of the game when players from both teams came together in the middle to engage in the customary post-match handshake.
The Indian team (men and women) has adopted a no-handshake policy with Pakistan since the ACC Men's Asia Cup 2025, which was the first tournament played after a kinetic conflict involving both countries earlier that year.
India have also stuck to the same policy in age-group cricket, and it was evident at the ACC U19 Asia Cup in Dubai last year and the ICC Men's U19 World Cup in January-February. Jemimah's hug with Sana is the first-ever documented incident of an active India and Pakistan player greeting each other on the field of play since the war that broke out between the two neighbouring countries in May last year.
Everyone debating if Fatima Sana and jemimah Rodrigues would shake hands and they straight up HUGGED?!ššš
ā A. (@anhnjo) July 30, 2026
Keep politics out of sports FOREVER. pic.twitter.com/XCE2lswGlg
Meanwhile, Southern Brave dominated Birmingham Phoenix in the match and emerged victorious by 24 runs. Brave were put into bat first and posted a massive total of 140 in 100 balls for the loss of three wickets. They got off to a rollicking start with the help of a 68-run partnership off 47 balls between Maia Bouchier and wicketkeeper batter Lizelle Lee.
Rodrigues played an unbeaten cameo of 28 off 18 deliveries, injecting momentum into the innings at the fag end of the game and pushing Brave to a healthy total.
Sana was expensive with the ball, conceding 33 off 15 at 2.20 runs per ball without any success.
In reply, Phoenix could only manage 116 for the loss of five wickets, with opener Davina Perrin top-scoring for them with 52. Sana remained unbeaten on 5 off four deliveries.