Pakistan to take on India in high-voltage ICC Women’s World Cup match today

The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025’s much-anticipated fixture between India and Pakistan is scheduled to take place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo today (Sunday), reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

The Pakistani women’s team participated in an indoor practice session on Saturday.

Pakistan and India have so far played 11 matches, which were all won by India.

The much-awaited encounter will not only add another chapter to the Indo-Pak rivalry but also offer Pakistan a chance to rewrite history, as they have never beaten Indian women in an ODI.

Prior to this match, India had beaten Sri Lanka, while Bangladesh had defeated Pakistan.

The pre-match discussions have been dominated by questions such as whether the two sides will shake hands — a symbolic gesture that has recently become a point of contention.

The match, set to be played in Sri Lanka instead of on Indian soil, has drawn heightened attention following the remarks of Indian sports journalist Boria Majumdar, who claimed on the social media platform ‘X’ that there would be no handshake between the two teams before or after the game.

His statement has reignited the debate about the tense cricketing relations between the two neighbouring nations.

Today’s fixture will be the sixth of the ongoing Women’s World Cup.

Both teams are preparing intensely for the encounter, which is scheduled to begin at 3 pm local time.

Colombo was chosen as a venue for the match in view of existing tensions between the two countries that have now spilled over into the field. 

The discussion around the handshake stems from the recent Asia Cup 2025, where the two sides met three times.

During that tournament, Indian players were seen avoiding physical contact with Pakistani players, refraining from handshakes both before and after the matches.

India went on to win the Asia Cup for a record ninth time, defeating Pakistan by five wickets in the final played on September 28.

Given the tense backdrop of the Asia Cup and the aftermath of Operation Sandoor-related developments, the forthcoming World Cup encounter is being viewed as more than just a cricket match.

Fans and analysts alike are curious to see whether sportsmanship will transcend political undertones this time or if the symbolic handshake will again be skipped, reflecting the strained relations between the two teams.