Watch: Why Did Harmanpreet Kaur refuse to shake Fatima Sana's hand at the toss? The moment that's got everyone talking

The no-handshake policy once again came into focus during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan. Before the highly anticipated Group A match, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur and Pakistan captain Fatima Sana arrived for the toss, but the customary handshake between the two skippers did not take place. The moment quickly drew attention from fans and viewers watching the match.

The incident was part of a broader policy that has been followed by Indian teams for more than nine months. Under the BCCI's directive, Indian players have avoided traditional pre-match and post-match handshakes with Pakistan teams across various tournaments. The policy limits interactions to the game itself while maintaining a professional and respectful approach on the field.

The same scene was witnessed at the toss before the match at Edgbaston. Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana completed the toss proceedings without a handshake, with India winning the toss and electing to bat first. The moment soon went viral on social media, sparking discussion among cricket fans around the world.

Watch the viral moment here:

Harmanpreet Kaur walks past Fatima Sana at the toss without a handshake during IND-W vs PAK-W WT20 World Cup 2026

Harmanpreet Kaur's interaction with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana at the toss became a major talking point ahead of the India Women vs Pakistan Women clash in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday, June 14. After winning the toss, Harmanpreet elected to bat first in India's tournament opener. However, it was what happened immediately after the coin flip that caught the attention of fans.

Following the toss, Harmanpreet moved directly towards broadcaster Mel Jones for her interview instead of exchanging a handshake with Fatima Sana. Once her media duties were complete, the Indian skipper walked away, with the moment quickly spreading across social media and sparking discussion among cricket fans.

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The incident was in line with a policy that Indian teams have followed in recent months. Indian cricketers have continued to avoid traditional handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, a practice that first gained attention during the men's Asia Cup in 2025. With thousands of fans packed into the stadium and millions watching around the world, the India-Pakistan encounter remained one of the most anticipated matches of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026.

"We Are Here for Cricket, We Only Talk About Cricket" — How the BCCI's no-handshake directive became standard across every India-Pakistan fixture

The BCCI's no-handshake policy has become a regular feature whenever Indian and Pakistani teams meet on the cricket field. Over the past year, the approach has been followed across several tournaments, including the Rising Stars Asia Cup, the Under-19 Asia Cup, and the Under-19 World Cup. The same protocol was once again visible during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026 clash between India and Pakistan.

A similar moment had also taken place during last year's Women's World Cup, when India captain Harmanpreet Kaur did not exchange a handshake with Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana after the match. Ahead of the latest encounter, Harmanpreet was asked about the issue during the pre-match press conference. However, the Indian captain made it clear that the team's focus remained entirely on cricket rather than any off-field discussions.

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"Well, I think we are here for cricket, and we only talk about cricket. Except for cricket, we don't talk about anything, and I don't even think about anything except cricket," Harmanpreet said when questioned about the policy. Her comments reflected the team's approach throughout the tournament and echoed the BCCI's directive that has been followed across various levels of Indian cricket.

By replacing traditional handshakes with respectful acknowledgements, the Indian team has continued to follow the board's guidelines while maintaining professionalism on the field. The policy has now become a familiar part of India-Pakistan contests, with players keeping their focus firmly on the game while avoiding unnecessary controversy off it.

From Lord's to Under-19 World Cups — Why India's no-handshake policy with Pakistan is here to stay

India's no-handshake policy against Pakistan has become a consistent feature across international cricket. The practice first gained widespread attention during the men's Asia Cup in 2025 and has since been followed whenever Indian and Pakistani teams have met in major tournaments. The latest example came during the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2026, where India once again avoided the traditional handshake with Pakistan.

The policy has not been limited to senior cricket. It has also been seen in several age-group competitions, including the Rising Stars Asia Cup, the Under-19 Asia Cup, and the Under-19 World Cup. Across these tournaments, Indian teams have followed the same approach, making it a standard part of India-Pakistan encounters.

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The directive was introduced by the BCCI during a men's multi-nation tournament last year amid ongoing tensions between the two neighbouring countries. Since then, Indian teams have replaced the customary handshake with respectful gestures such as the traditional "Namaste" while keeping interactions focused on the game. The Women's T20 World Cup clash in England showed that the board continues to stand by this policy.

The continuation of the no-handshake protocol also highlights the current state of cricketing relations between India and Pakistan. With bilateral series still off the calendar and travel-related issues remaining unresolved, ICC and multi-nation tournaments continue to be the primary occasions when the two rivals face each other. For now, India's no-handshake policy appears set to remain a regular part of those high-profile encounters.