The Indian women’s Cricket team continued its no-handshake policy with Pakistan during the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match on Sunday, June 14. India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss and chose to bat first, but did not shake hands with the Pakistani captain, Fatima Sana, as is customary.
This no-handshake approach started after the Men’s Asia Cup 2025 when then-captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan’s skipper Salman Agha in all three matches between the teams during the tournament.
The decision was made in response to the Pahalgam terrorist attack, which has affected the political relations between India and Pakistan.
Before the match, Harmanpreet was asked about the no-handshake policy, and she stated that her team was focused solely on cricket. She emphasized, “We are here for cricket and only talk about cricket. Beyond that, I don’t think about anything else. Cricket has been our dream since day one. Tomorrow’s game is just another match for us. There will be pressure, especially against Pakistan, but it’s about enjoying that pressure. In any International game, the pressure exists; it’s all about giving your best and enjoying every moment,” said Harmanpreet in the pre-match press conference.