No Handshake: India Steady at 100-2 vs Pakistan

News Desk 

Colombo: India reached 100 for the loss of two wickets against Pakistan in their Women’s World Cup clash in Colombo on Saturday, a match that began amid visible tension as both captains declined to shake hands at the toss.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and opted to bowl first, citing favourable pitch conditions and early moisture. “We’re going to bowl first because the weather looks good and there is a little bit of moisture in the pitch,” she said. “On this surface, anything under 250 should be a good total to defend.”

Pakistan made one change, bringing in Sadaf Shamas for Omaima Sohail, while India were forced to replace the unwell Amanjot Kaur with Renuka Singh.

Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur expressed confidence in her side’s preparation and chemistry. “Before heading to the World Cup, we had a good series here. We’ve played a lot of cricket in these conditions. The team is gelling really well and now it’s about staying confident,” she said.

The pre-match atmosphere was notably subdued. Neither captain engaged with the other during the toss, echoing recent men’s matches between the two nations where political tensions overshadowed the spirit of the game. Due to ongoing diplomatic strains, all of Pakistan’s World Cup fixtures are being played in Sri Lanka, despite India being the official tournament host.

Relations between the two women’s teams have traditionally been more cordial. At the 2022 World Cup, players from both sides famously posed for photos with Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s infant daughter — a moment widely praised as a symbol of sportsmanship.

However, ahead of Sunday’s fixture, both camps avoided commenting on the state of bilateral relations. “Our main goal is to play and stay focused,” Fatima Sana said when asked about the gesture. “We try to maintain healthy relationships with every team and keep the spirit of the game alive.”

As the national anthems concluded, Fatima Sana gathered her teammates in a huddle before leading them onto the field. Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal followed, setting the stage for an intense contest between the arch-rivals.

Playing XIs:

India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (c), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Shree Charani, Renuka Singh.

Pakistan: Muneeba Ali, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (c), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal.

At the latest update, India were 100 for 2, with Smriti Mandhana looking well set to anchor the innings.