Table of Contents
There was no ceremonial handshake between the Indian Women’s Cricket team and Pakistan Women’s Cricket team when they faced each other for a 2026 T20 World Cup group stage match on Sunday at Edgbaston.
India got a comprehensive win over their arch-rivals. Along with the result of the match, cricket fans were curious to see whether there was any handshaking between the two rival nations.
Wahab Riaz opens up on the no-handshake debate
Since the Asia Cup 2025, the Indian cricket team has stopped shaking hands with the Pakistan cricket team players in all tournaments. Ahead of the match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was asked about her stance regarding this. Kaur, however, avoided answering it directly.
After the match, former Pakistan pacer, now the head coach of the nation’s Women’s cricket team, was asked on the same topic.
“I’m sorry to ask this, but we noticed there were no handshakes again today. What’s the relationship like between the players and the staff from the two different teams? Are you friendly behind the scenes, or is it just frosty?” a reporter asked this to Riaz.
It won’t make a big difference: Pakistan Women’s team head coach
The head coach of the Pakistan cricket team did not seem too bothered about the no-handshake series. He believes that snubbing the handshake will not make any big difference.
“See, I don’t know. I just left cricket way before, so I don’t know the reason for not shaking hands. But I think if things want to move like this, let’s go like that. It won’t make a big difference,” Wahab Riaz said.
Batting first, India scored 170 runs in 20 overs for 6 wickets, while Pakistan got only 106 in the second innings, in exchange for all ten wickets. Deepti Sharma’s 5-wicket haul was one of the turning points of the match. Pakistan batters found no match against India’s quality bowling.
Riaz shows some glimpses of hope after the defeat against India
Riaz said that they leaked 15 to 20 runs extra, which might have put extra pressure on them, which led to a batting collapse.
“I think we have given away 15-20 runs, having another extra fielder in the last 2 overs in the circle. I think that also gave them the momentum that only 3 fielders are in the boundaries, but I believe that still 15 to 20 runs, I think we have given away,” he said.
Despite the crunching defeat, he highlights some of the positive signs in the performance against India. “See, there are a few positives. I think the way they fight is the fight in the bowling and then coming on with the batting.”
“There are some glimpses of positivity, and we will take that. We know it is always going to be a game of nerves, and I think we are working hard on it. And they have been trying their level best, and you win one, you lose one. Unfortunately, we were on the losing side today”, he added further.