No Handshake at Toss as Pakistan Choose to Bowl Against India

The rivalry spoke louder than the words. At the R Premadasa Stadium, just before the 6th match of the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana and India’s Harmanpreet Kaur skipped the handshake at the toss. It was a tense moment that questioned the sportsmanship in cricket.

Fatima won the toss and chose to bowl first, saying the surface might offer something early on. Her pace partner Diana Baig will share the new ball, while left-arm spinners Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal carry Pakistan’s hopes in the middle overs. 

The batting card will stay with Muneeba Ali and Sadaf Shams, expected to give the start, followed by Aliya Riaz and Natalia Pervaiz in the middle.

India has relied on its experienced players. Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal were asked to open the innings, with Harmanpreet, Harleen, and Jemimah Rodrigues holding the middle order together. Deepti Sharma and Sneh Rana will be asked for all-round balance, while Renuka Singh leads the pace attack.

Playing XIs

Pakistan: Muneeba Ali, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin, Aliya Riaz, Natalia Pervaiz, Fatima Sana (capt), Rameen Shamim, Diana Baig, Sidra Nawaz (wk), Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal.

India: Smriti Mandhana, Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (capt), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Kranti Goud, Nallapureddy Charani, Renuka Singh.

The toss exchange became the morning’s headline, which was brief, polite, but distant. With political interference and a fierce cricketing rivalry, it was clear neither side wanted to blink first.

India has beaten Pakistan in all eleven of their previous ODIs. But on a surface offering early swing, Pakistan will believe this might be the day the story shifts.

The match began under thick humidity, tension still hanging in the air. For both teams, this isn’t just about points, but about pride.

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