Wed Oct 01 23:03:50 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary and a news article rewrite based on the provided text:

**Summary:**

Amidst strained Indo-Pakistani relations, the Indian women’s cricket team will follow the men’s team’s lead and forego customary handshakes and pleasantries with the Pakistani team during their upcoming Women’s World Cup match in Colombo on October 5th. This decision follows escalating tensions, including a refusal by the PCB chief to present the Asia Cup trophy to the Indian men’s team. The BCCI, aligned with government policy, is implementing this no-handshake policy across both teams, marking a stark contrast to friendlier interactions seen in past tournaments.

**News Article:**

**Indo-Pak Cricket Relations Sour Further: Indian Women’s Team to Forgo Handshakes in World Cup Clash**

**New Delhi – October 2, 2025** – Citing ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan, the Indian women’s cricket team will not engage in customary pre-game and post-game handshakes with the Pakistani team during their Women’s World Cup match in Colombo on October 5th. This decision mirrors a similar policy implemented by the Indian men’s team earlier this year.

The move comes amidst escalating unease between the two nations’ cricket boards. Sources within the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India), speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed that the decision is aligned with government policy. This includes foregoing the traditional handshake at the coin toss, photo opportunities with the match referee, and post-game handshakes.

The source explained that following a controversial incident during the Asia Cup in Dubai, where the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief reportedly refused to hand over the winner’s trophy to the Indian captain, Suryakumar Yadav, the BCCI has decided to enforce a stricter protocol.

“The BCCI is aligned with the government and there will be no customary handshake at the toss, no photo-shoot with the match referee, and no end-of-game handshakes. The policy followed by the men will also be implemented by the women,” the source stated.

The heightened tensions mark a significant departure from friendlier scenes witnessed in the past. During the 2022 ODI World Cup in New Zealand, images of Indian players interacting warmly with the infant daughter of Pakistani player Bismah Maroof went viral. However, in Colombo this week, a similar display of camaraderie is unlikely, with expectations that even basic pleasantries between captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana will be minimal.

It remains to be seen who will present the coin toss in Colombo, with speculation pointing towards a former player or pundit from a neutral nation. The match is expected to be played under heightened security and scrutiny.

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