![No handshake drama continues in Asia Cup 2026 [Source: X]](https://onecricketnews.akamaized.net/parth-editor/oc-dashboard/news-images-prod/1788619229955_INDvsPAKnohandshake.jpg?type=hq)
No handshake drama continues in Asia Cup 2026 [Source: X]
As the India women's team and Pakistan women's team faced off against each other in the Women's Asia Cup 2026 on September 5, a massive controversy erupted online after cameras captured something that brought back memories of the shake-up that began during the men's Asia Cup 2025.
Notably, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana were seen avoiding a cordial greeting after the toss, which fueled massive speculation and debate online while also raising questions about sportsmanship in the game.
Harmanpreet Kaur Avoids Handshake With Fatima Sana in Women's Asia Cup 2026 Game
The marquee matchup at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium on September 5 saw India Women and Pakistan Women clash against each other. After the toss, Fatima Sana won it and cameras captured Harmanpreet Kaur moving straight out of Sana's way as the PAK captain approached the anchor to declare her decision after winning the toss.
Watch the video below:
After Fatima Sana finished her speech, she crossed paths with Harmanpreet Kaur again, but neither of them initiated a handshake as a positive sign of sportsmanship between the players.
The drama has continued since 2025, when, following the Pahalgam terror attack, India walked straight to the dressing room after the match without shaking hands with the Pakistani team, in protest against the attack.
Also Read- Harmanpreet Kaur's Creates History As She Takes On Pakistan In Asia Cup 2026
That led to broader diplomatic concerns and a cricketing dispute between the two countries, which further agitated the spirit of sportsmanship in the game. This was later followed by a similar incident involving the India women's and Pakistan women's teams, including during the September 5, 2026 on Saturday.
Will India and Pakistan captains be punished by ICC for the gesture?
The incident in Dubai, though, might not potentially bring major controversial decisions by the International Cricket Council involving Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana.
The ICC Code of Conduct can penalise players for things such as unsporting conduct, conduct that is contrary to the spirit of the game, as well as other physical and non-physical actions that harm the spirit of the game.
Although the apex cricket body is known for punishing poor gestures, there is no general cricket law requiring captains or players to shake hands after the toss or before a match.
If, as seen on camera, Harmanpreet and Fatima simply did not initiate a handshake without abusing, insulting, threatening or confronting each other, it would not fall under the category of a direct ICC Code of Conduct violation.
Handshakes are a customary gesture of sportsmanship rather than a requirement under the Laws of Cricket. Hence, although this might spark some debate on and off the internet, the incident might not automatically result in an ICC punishment for players declining or failing to shake hands.
Have There Been Other 'No-Handshake' Controversies Like IND vs PAK?
Although there haven't been many incidents that exactly mirror the circumstances surrounding the India vs Pakistan face-off, there have been a few instances where post-match handshakes did not take place.
Earlier, during the 2006 Oval Test, Pakistan forfeited a Test match against England after umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove penalised the team five runs and accused them of ball tampering.
Pakistan forfeited the fixture, and following the chaotic conclusion, the traditional end-of-match handshakes could not take place. Hence, although it does not directly relate to the India versus Pakistan scenario, it wasn't a cordial ending for the teams.
Later, in a run-out incident in 2008, a New Zealand batter collided with the England bowler, and England opted not to withdraw their appeal. This resulted in friction and the omission of warm post-match exchanges and friendly gestures between the players in the heat of the moment.
A more recent example of a no-handshake game came between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka during the 2018 Nidahas Trophy. During a virtual semi-final in Colombo, a chaotic argument over a shoulder-height no-ball saw tempers flare between the players.
After the match finished, the tension boiled over, and the traditional post-match handshakes were entirely snubbed as players clashed aggressively on the pitch.
Also Read- India's Record In One-Off T20I Matches Ahead Of Historic Japan Encounter
