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India captain Harmanpreet Kaur as soon as once more turned the centre of consideration forward of a high-profile conflict in opposition to Pakistan after she appeared to snub a customary handshake with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana earlier than the 2 sides met within the ICC Girls’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston, Birmingham.
The Group 1 encounter was probably the most anticipated fixtures of the event, however a lot of the dialogue earlier than the primary ball revolved across the interplay between the captains. The incident continued a pattern that has been seen in current India-Pakistan conferences throughout a number of ICC and Asian tournaments.
Harmanpreet Kaur snubs handshake with Pakistan captain as pattern continues
India and Pakistan locked horns in a vital Group 1 fixture at Edgbaston, Birmingham. Nonetheless, the main focus earlier than the match shifted away from cricket after Harmanpreet Kaur appeared to keep away from a handshake with Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana.
The event comes amid a sample that has emerged in current India-Pakistan contests. Throughout final yr’s Girls’s ODI World Cup, Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana additionally didn’t trade handshakes through the toss ceremony.
For the reason that Males’s Asia Cup final yr, Indian groups have largely moved away from the standard pre-match handshake with Pakistan gamers. The method was first seen throughout Suryakumar Yadav’s captaincy tenure within the Asia Cup and has since been adopted throughout a number of tournaments.
Comparable scenes had been witnessed through the Girls’s World Cup, U19 World Cup, Rising Stars Asia Cup and the Males’s T20 World Cup. Consequently, the potential for gamers exchanging handshakes as soon as once more turned a significant speaking level forward of the most recent chapter within the India-Pakistan rivalry.
Whereas India have traditionally loved the higher hand in opposition to Pakistan in ICC occasions, matches between the 2 sides proceed to draw huge consideration each on and off the sphere.
What did Harmanpreet Kaur say on the handshake controversy earlier than the India vs Pakistan conflict?
On the eve of the match, Harmanpreet Kaur was requested whether or not there had been any communication from the BCCI relating to handshakes and whether or not the problem was one thing the gamers had mentioned.
“Effectively, I feel we’re right here for cricket, and we solely speak about cricket; apart from cricket, we don’t speak about something, and I don’t even take into consideration something besides cricket. Cricket has been our dream from day one, and we solely speak about it. For tomorrow’s recreation, we’re pondering of it as simply one other recreation we’re going to play,” Harmanpreet informed reporters.
The India captain additionally admitted that stress is at all times a part of India-Pakistan contests however careworn the significance of embracing the event.
“Undoubtedly stress goes to be there, which I earlier agreed to that, each time we play in opposition to Pakistan, stress might be there, however on the similar time it’s solely about how we’re going to take pleasure in that stress as a result of in any Worldwide recreation, stress goes to be there; it’s solely about giving your 100% in that recreation and having fun with each second,” she added.
What occurred within the final India Girls vs Pakistan Girls T20 World Cup conflict?
The final time India and Pakistan met in a Girls’s T20 World Cup fixture was in Dubai through the 2024 version. India produced a disciplined all-round efficiency to register a six-wicket victory whereas chasing a modest goal of 106.
After opting to bat first, Pakistan struggled in opposition to India’s bowlers and completed with 105/8 of their 20 overs. Arundhati Reddy starred with the ball, claiming 3/19, whereas Shreyanka Patil picked up two wickets and Renuka Singh, Deepti Sharma and Asha Sobhana chipped in with one every. Nida Dar top-scored for Pakistan with 28 runs, however India by no means allowed the innings to realize momentum.
In reply, India misplaced Smriti Mandhana early for seven, however Shafali Verma anchored the chase with 32 runs. Jemimah Rodrigues added 23, whereas Harmanpreet Kaur performed a vital unbeaten knock of 29 earlier than retiring damage late within the innings. Regardless of a few fast wickets from Fatima Sana, India comfortably reached 108/4 in 18.5 overs to seal the competition with seven balls to spare.
Arundhati Reddy was named Participant of the Match for her match-winning spell as India continued their dominance over Pakistan in ICC tournaments.
