Mohsin Naqvi from PCB and Devajit Saikia from BCCI (Source: AFP)
India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, will begin their Women's Asia Cup campaign against Thailand at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on August 30. They will then face Hong Kong on September 3 before taking on Pakistan on September 5.
India's men's and women's cricketers have refrained from participating in the customary handshake with their Pakistani counterparts in matches that have taken place after Operation Sindoor, the military operation India carried out in response to the Pakistan-sponsored Pahalgam terror attack.
So, one question that is buzzing around the internet again is: Will the Indian players shake hands with their Pakistani opponents when both teams clash in the Women's Asia Cup 2026?
Amol Muzumdar addresses 'no handshake' policy with Pakistan before Asia Cup opener
Speaking at the pre-match press conference ahead of the India vs Thailand encounter in Dubai, India women's head coach Amol Muzumdar refused to reveal what the team will do when the two sides meet in their Group A clash on September 5.
Amol Muzumdar was asked whether India's players would exchange handshakes with Pakistan during their Women's Asia Cup 2026 match.
The India head coach did not give a yes-or-no answer. Instead, he said the team wanted to concentrate on playing its best cricket and would discuss the issue when the Pakistan match comes closer.
"Look, we try to play the best cricket on the ground and off-the-field stuff, we don't focus on it. We try to play the best cricket that we know on that particular day and we will speak about this when we play that game. But at the moment, we are focusing on tomorrow's game. One game at a time," Amol Muzumdar said.
Also Read: Mohsin Naqvi To Give Asia Cup Trophy Again! Will India Take It This Time?
His response means there is still no official confirmation on whether the Indian and Pakistani players will shake hands when they meet on September 5.
Harmanpreet Kaur Also Breaks Silence On India-Pakistan Handshake Row
India captain Harmanpreet Kaur was also asked about the handshake saga during her pre-tournament press conference. She too did not provide a clear answer, cleverly dodging the frequently asked question.
"We are not putting any focus on one particular team, which is going to be tough for us. All the teams have been doing well, and our focus is to play good cricket and not to take any team lightly," Harmanpreet said on facing Pakistan.
However, the situation is different in franchise cricket, where players from India and Pakistan play against each other. Notably, Indian cricketer Jemimah Rodrigues grabbed attention when she embraced her Pakistani counterpart Fatima Sana during the Women's Hundred 2026.
Why Has The 'No-Handshake' Policy Become A Major Talking point in IND vs PAK matches?
The no-handshake controversy has been closely linked with tensions between India and Pakistan since the Pahalgam terror attack in April 2025.
The BCCI adopted a strict no-handshake approach during the Men's Asia Cup in September 2025. India, then led by Suryakumar Yadav, also declined to receive the tournament trophy from PCB chief Mohsin Naqvi.
The PCB then lodged complaints with the ICC over the matter. However, no disciplinary action was taken, as handshakes are not compulsory under the official playing regulations.
The same approach later appeared in women's cricket as well. During India's Women's ODI World Cup match against Pakistan in Colombo in October 2025, Harmanpreet Kaur's team also declined to shake hands.
The policy was subsequently seen across different levels of Indian cricket. It continued during the Men's Rising Stars Asia Cup and the Under-19 Asia Cup.
