A pre-match moment involving the captains of Pakistan and India drew attention during their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 match in England, as India captain Harmanpreet Kaur again appeared not to exchange a traditional handshake with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana at the toss.
The incident occurred ahead of the eagerly awaited group-stage fixture between the two rivals. Television footage showed both captains standing together during the toss ceremony, but no customary handshake was visible.
Some observers viewed the incident as a continuation of India's reported no-handshake approach towards Pakistan, which has been noted in several men’s and women’s cricket matches since the 2025 Asia Cup.
Similar scenes were witnessed during the 2025 Women’s World Cup and other Pakistan-India fixtures, where the exchange of handshakes between captains was absent. The matter has drawn mixed reactions on both sides of the border.
