India vs Pakistan: No handshakes between captains at Women's World Cup before bugs and controversial run out
Captains Harmanpreet Kaur (India) and Fatima Sana (Pakistan) do not shake hands before Women's World Cup match amid ongoing tensions between nations; India win 12th straight ODI vs Pakistan in dramatic game that includes flying bugs and Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali's controversial run out
Sunday 5 October 2025 19:44, UK
India vs Pakistan encounters rarely go by without incident - and the Women's World Cup clash in Colombo was no different.
From the absence of handshakes at the toss, to flying insects stopping play, to a controversial run out for Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali, the game was action-packed.
India won by 88 runs - posting 247 all out before dismissing their opponents for 159 - to make it two wins from two in this World Cup following their opening victory over Sri Lanka in Guwahati.
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They preserved their impeccable record against Pakistan in one-day internationals with a 12th win from 12 in the format, but will want to improve on this display with no batter passing fifty - Harleen Deol maxing out with 46 - and the team also sloppy in the field at times.
Sidra Ameen hit 81 in vain for Pakistan, who have now suffered two losses from two after slipping to defeat in their first fixture against Bangladesh, also in Colombo.
Flying insects, you say?
Indeed.
India's innings was impacted by a swarm with batters and fielders both affected. Insect repellent was initially sprayed to try and remove the bugs and when that didn't work, it was fumigation time.
A man in a gas mask entered the field with a 'Bugbuster', leading to a 15-minute break in play while he went to work. For all his efforts, though, the insects did not really budge.
India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur had been irritated by the bugs before she clipped down the leg-side to be dismissed for 19 from 34 balls - Pakistan wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz taking a slick catch to her left - while they also annoyed Jemimah Rodrigues (32).
Speaking at the interval, Rodrigues, who was reprieved by a Diana Baig no-ball on two after snicking behind and then narrowly avoided being run out on 16, said: "You had to concentrate a lot more because you couldn't see much with the bugs coming but you have to do what you have to do out there."
What was this run-out controversy?
From the final ball of the fourth over in the Pakistan chase, Muneeba was subjected to an lbw appeal.
Muneeba grounded her bat over the line but it was then in the air - and the batter out of her crease - when the stumps were disturbed by the throw from Deepti Sharma.
The decision from TV umpire Kerrin Klaaste was out - after the big screen initially displayed 'not out' - much to Pakistan's frustration, with skipper Fatima Sana urging Muneeba to stay on the park.
Muneeba eventually trudged off but as she was not actively seeking a run, and considering the laws of the game, she can possibly consider herself unlucky.
Those MCC laws state…
30.1.1. A batter shall be considered to be out of his/her ground unless some part of his/her person or bat is grounded behind the popping crease at that end.
30.1.2. However, a batter shall not be considered to be out of his/her ground if, in running or diving towards his/her ground and beyond, and having grounded some part of his person or bat beyond the popping crease, there is subsequent loss of contact between the ground and any part of his/her person or bat, or between the bat and person, provided that the batter has continued movement in the same direction.
To add to the drama, Muneeba would actually have been out lbw to Kranti Gaud had India reviewed for that mode of dismissal.
It was not Harmanpreet's side's only erroneous use of DRS in the innings with reviews wasted and another chance going begging when they opted not to review.
And what about the handshakes - or lack thereof?
In keeping with the recent matches between the men's sides in the Asia Cup, the India and Pakistan captains did not shake hands at the toss, with Harmanpreet and Pakistan counterpart Fatima not engaging as India were put in to bat.
There were no handshakes between the players after the match either.
This stems from the conflict between the two nations earlier this year following a deadly militant attack on tourists in India-administered Kashmir.
India are official hosts of the Women's World Cup but Pakistan are playing all of their games in Sri Lanka.
That policy was in place long before this year's conflict due to ongoing tensions, with India and Pakistan not playing in each other's homelands until at least 2027.
What happened with India and Pakistan men at Asia Cup?
India T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav did not shake hands with Pakistan skipper Salman Agha in any of the three contests between the teams, including the final that India won by five wickets in Dubai.
Suryakumar said after India's first Asia Cup game against Pakistan that he and his team were aligned with Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and government instructions that players would not shake hands with Pakistan players.
The players did not shake hands after any of the matches, while India did not accept the winners' trophy from Asian Cricket Council president Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board and Pakistan's Interior Minister.
Instead, India lifted an 'imaginary' trophy before posing for a team photoshoot.
What is next for India and Pakistan at the Women's World Cup?
Pakistan play title favourites Australia in Colombo on Wednesday, before India host South Africa in Vizag a day later.
Both matches start at 10.30am UK and Ireland time with build-up from 10am on Sky Sports Cricket.
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