India continue 'no handshake' policy with Pakistan in Women's T20 World Cup
Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana at the toss (Source: Getty Images)
Published - 14 Jun 2026, 05:23 PM• Read time - 2 mins
The Indian women’s cricket team continued the ‘no-handshake’ policy with Pakistan during their ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 fixture on Sunday, June 14. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and elected to bat first in the all-important fixture. However, she didn’t shake hands with her Pakistani counterpart, Fatima Sana, as per the custom at the toss.
The Indian cricket team has maintained a no-handshake policy with Pakistan since the Men’s Asia Cup 2025, when the then captain Suryakumar Yadav snubbed the handshake with the Pakistan skipper Salman Agha on all three meetings between the two teams during the tournament.
The stance was taken in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which strained the political relations between the two countries. Meanwhile, even though the handshake didn't happen at the toss, former Pakistan captain Sana Mir and former India skipper Mithali Raj carried the trophy together ahead of the national anthems.
Earlier, Harmanpreet Kaur was asked about India's no handshake policy ahead of the fixture, and the India skipper said that her team was only there for cricket and nothing else.
"Well, I think we are here for cricket and we only talk about cricket; except cricket we don't talk about anything, and I don't even, think about anything except cricket. Cricket has been our dream from day one and we only discuss cricket. For tomorrow's game, we are only thinking that it’s another game that we are going to play," said Harmanpreet in the pre-match press conference.
The India skipper also acknowledged the pressure of the Pakistan game and how her team's focus was only to give their 100% in the field.
"Definitely pressure is going to be there, which I earlier agree to that — whenever we play against Pakistan pressure will be there — but at the same time it's only about how we are going to enjoy that pressure because in any International game, pressure is going to be there; it's only about giving your 100% in that game and enjoying each and every moment," she added.
India's dominant record vs Pakistan
India hold the upper hand over Pakistan in women’s T20Is, having won 13 out of 16 matches between the two teams. Pakistan last beat India during the Women’s Asia Cup in 2022, where they won by 13 runs.
India Women (Playing XI): Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur(c), Bharti Fulmali, Richa Ghosh(w), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Shreyanka Patil, Shree Charani, Kranti Gaud
Pakistan Women (Playing XI): Gull Feroza, Muneeba Ali(w), Ayesha Zafar, Saira Jabeen, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana(c), Rameen Shamim, Nashra Sandhu, Tasmia Rubab, Sadia Iqbal
