Focus Solely on Cricket as India, Pakistan Face Off Amid Lingering Tensions
For the Indian women's cricket team, the concept of Pakistan as a rival is more inherited than born of direct on-field animosity. The intense hype surrounding their fixtures has always been shaped by the legacy of the men's game, spilling over to such an extent that it often overshadows the individuality of their own contest. And even though that rivalry has cooled in men's cricket, the recent string of tense clashes in Dubai ensures the baggage remains. That tension was always likely to bleed into their Women's World Cup 2025 fixture in Colombo, adding layers of pressure and noise to a contest that has historically lacked a sharp on-field edge.
Despite the external noise, both teams are acutely aware that, come Sunday, the game itself must take precedence. Both squads are determined to keep their focus squarely on the contest ahead. For Pakistan, this means fostering a bubble of unity to block out distractions.
"Definitely, firstly if you see, we are like a family—we 20-22 people are like one family—so we are not at all focused on what's going on outside," Pakistan captain Fatima Sana stated. "Obviously, we know what's happening around us, but we try to stay focused only on the game, because the World Cup is an event every player waits for. We will try to keep our focus on the tournament and on what we have come here for."
India, too, is prioritizing mental space and meticulous preparation above all else in their bid to succeed in a tournament where they are counted among the favourites.
"When you enter into a big tournament like a World Cup, the area of focus is only cricket," said Avishkar Salvi, India's bowling coach. "It's good to have the players in a good space. As you saw in the first game, after that first win, obviously, the team is on a momentum, on a roll, and they have been preparing well. Wherever we are getting an opportunity to practice, they're practicing. Whenever there are opportunities to discuss the game plans, they're discussing that. So, everybody is in a good space where they are working in an ecosystem where they are trying to get their A game onto the day, whatever [opposition] it is."
In a clear sign of the lingering off-field strains, the match will unfold without the customary pre and post-match handshakes for a fourth successive Sunday. This decision comes amid ongoing tensions between the two cricketing boards, following a series of controversies and escalations during the men's Asia Cup 2025. The environment was further charged just three days prior when Sana Mir, a former Pakistan captain turned commentator, referred to "Azad Kashmir"—a disputed region between the two nations—as Natalia Pervaiz's hometown during Pakistan's match against Bangladesh.
In a bid to prevent any further unsavoury incidents, Cricbuzz has learned that the ICC will hold a meeting with the team managers of both India and Pakistan on the eve of the match to clearly outline the match-day protocols.
This follows India's firm stance on the matter. Speaking on the sidelines of India's World Cup opener against Sri Lanka, BCCI honorary secretary Devajit Saikia told the BBC Stumped podcast that there had been no shift in India's approach. "India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed. I can only assure that whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket, that will be done. Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment," he said.
It is understood that the Pakistan team has also been advised "not to go after the Indians."
While handshakes are a long-standing tradition in cricket, it is important to note that they are not mandated by the game's laws, and forgoing them carries no official sporting consequences.
The emotional weight of an India-Pakistan clash is unlikely to fade anytime soon. But as they prepare for this World Cup encounter, both teams appear committed to channelling that emotion into a professional and focused performance. For the first time in weeks, if the weather holds, the spotlight may finally be on the sport itself, rather than the theatrics surrounding it.
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