As the Women's Asia Cup 2026 draws near, cricket enthusiasts are once again speculating whether players from India and Pakistan will shake hands before their highly anticipated clash. This question has become a recurring theme in matches between these two cricketing giants, particularly since the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) instituted a no-handshake policy following the tragic Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.
India is set to face Pakistan on September 5 in Dubai, and the no-handshake protocol has been strictly adhered to in all encounters between the two nations since its inception. This policy has been observed across various formats and age groups, reflecting a broader trend in Indian cricket. Head coach Amol Muzumdar, during a recent press conference, was tight-lipped when asked about the team's stance on the handshake issue, opting instead to concentrate on the game itself.
Muzumdar emphasized the importance of focusing on performance on the field rather than off-field protocols. "Look, we try to play the best cricket on the ground and off-the-field stuff, we don’t focus on it. We try to play the best cricket that we know on that particular day and we will speak about this when we play that game. But at the moment, we are focusing on tomorrow’s game. One game at a time," he stated, keeping the attention on the upcoming match.
The no-handshake policy was first introduced during the 2025 Men's Asia Cup, where the Indian men's team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, refrained from handshakes with the Pakistan team captained by Salman Ali Agha during all their encounters in that tournament. What began as a temporary measure has since evolved into a standard practice, extending to all formats and age groups, including women's cricket.
The Indian women's team first adhered to this policy during their World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo in October 2025. The trend continued in subsequent tournaments, including the Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup and the Under-19 Asia Cup, where both teams maintained the no-handshake stance. Most recently, during the Women's T20 World Cup in June 2026, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur and her team upheld the protocol, further solidifying this practice in the cricketing landscape.
Historically, India has had the upper hand in their encounters against Pakistan, especially in the One Day International (ODI) format. The two teams have faced each other 121 times in ODIs, with India winning 120 of those matches. In T20 internationals, India leads with 17 victories out of 20 encounters. Overall, India has won 29 matches against Pakistan, while Pakistan has secured 26 wins, showcasing a competitive rivalry.
As the Women's Asia Cup 2026 approaches, the focus will not only be on the match itself but also on how both teams navigate this unique aspect of their rivalry. The handshake policy serves as a reminder of the complex relationship between the two nations, both on and off the cricket field.
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