Asia Cup Tensions Spill Into Women’s World Cup as Pakistan Brace for India Clash

The buildup to the Pakistan vs India clash during the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup is being overshadowed by lingering sporting tensions between the two nations. The Men’s Asia Cup featured some of the most politically charged encounters between the sides, and now, similar undertones are expected to carry over to the women’s game.

During the Asia Cup, India’s men’s team pointedly avoided handshakes with Pakistani players and refused to collect the trophy from Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Mohsin Naqvi, who also serves as Pakistan’s interior minister. These gestures followed heightened military tensions in May, and sources suggest the Indian women’s team may adopt a similar stance in Colombo.

Pakistan’s team manager, Hina Munawar, has reportedly consulted with the PCB for guidance on how players should respond. While no official statements have been released by either camp, Indian media has strongly indicated that their women’s team will mirror the actions of the men’s side and avoid sporting diplomacy with Pakistan.

The Pakistan women’s cricket team will begin its World Cup campaign against Bangladesh on 2 October at the R. Premadasa Stadium, before facing India at the same venue this Sunday.

All of Pakistan’s group matches, along with the semi-final on 29 October and the final on 2 November, will be staged in Colombo, following an agreement that Pakistan and India will only meet at neutral venues when co-hosting ICC events.

With the cricketing spotlight firmly fixed on Colombo for the Pakistan-India Women’s ODI World Cup match, the Pakistan women will be chasing victories on the field while bracing for political undercurrents off it, a reminder that when India and Pakistan meet, the contest isn’t confined to the boundary line.