Chasing down the challenging target of the match against strong India Women at Colombo on Sunday (October 5) evening, Pakistan Women's star batter Sidra Amin created a new history for her country with her fighting knock. 

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, IND-W vs PAK-W: India Women won by 88 runs

After sending India Women to bat first, Pakistan Women restricted them to 247 all out in 50 overs. It was the first time that Pakistan Women bowled out India Women in the Women's ODI, but it was a challenging target for Pakistan, as the pitch wasn't comfortable for the batters, and the set batters were also struggling to hit boundaries consistently. India Women had a lot of 20s and 30s, but there weren't any 50+ scores, as Harleen Deol was the leading run-scorer for the team with 46 runs.

Chasing down the target, Pakistan Women struggled in the early period of the innings. Apart from two partnerships, there weren't any threats for the India Women, as only Sidra Amin managed to provide some strong replies in the chase. While Pakistan Women were all out for 159 runs in 43 overs, as India Women won by 88 runs, Sidra was the highest run scorer in the game with 81 runs. 

Sidra batted strongly, but she hardly had any support from the other end, as only two more Pakistan batters managed to reach double-digit scores, who were Natalia Pervaiz (33) and Sidra Nawaz (14). Meanwhile, Sidra Amin scored 81 off 106 balls with nine fours and one six, as she was the only Pakistan batter to keep alive the game for the country, and after her dismissal, the fate was confirmed.

WATCH: Muneeba Ali's controversial run out during IND-W vs PAK-W ICC Women's World Cup 2025 match

Sidra Amin records highest score for Pakistan Women vs India Women in Women's ODI

Sidra Amin became the highest run-scorer for Pakistan Women against India Women in the history of a Women's ODI match. The previous record was 68 not out by Nida Dar during the 2013 Cuttack Women's ODI. On the other hand, Amin smashed a six during her record-breaking innings, which was also Pakistan Women's first-ever six against India Women in the Women's ODI history. 

On Sunday (October 5), India Women and Pakistan Women are taking on each other at Colombo in the sixth game of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, the Indian team set a challenging target for Pakistan, where they also set a new record for the team. 

After Pakistan Women chose to bowl first, Indian batters got some starts, but all failed to capitalise their starts, as India were losing wickets at regular intervals. At the end of 50 overs, India Women were all out for 247 runs, which is a good challenging total on the challenging pitch. It was the first time for Pakistan Women when they bowled out India Women in the Women's ODI. Meanwhile, India Women scored their fourth-highest total against Pakistan Women in the Women's ODI, but we aren't talking about this record here. 

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, IND-W vs PAK-W: India Women scored their record Women's ODI total without any 50+ scores

India Women's innings had no 50+ scores, as the highest score was 46 by Harleen Deol, who took 65 balls to play that crucial knock. Opener Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues scored 31 and 32 runs, respectively. Meanwhile, another opener Smriti Mandhana, Deepti Sharma, and Sneh Rana scored 23, 25, and 20 runs, respectively, while captain Harmanpreet Kaur was out for 19 runs. At the end, Richa Ghosh played a great cameo of 35 not out from just 20 balls with three fours and two sixes to guide India Women to a total of 240+ runs.  

WATCH: Jemimah Rodrigues caught out on no ball during IND-W vs PAK-W ICC Women's World Cup 2025 match

It was the highest Women's ODI total for India Women without any 50+ runs. Their previous record was 227 all out against New Zealand Women in the 2024 Ahmedabad Women's ODI. Meanwhile, it was the fourth-highest Women's ODI total without any 50+ runs in the innings. 

Highest Women's ODI totals without any 50+ scores

267/9 - New Zealand Women vs England Women, (Chennai, Velacherry in 2007)
266/5 - Australia Women vs International XI Women (Wellington in 1982) - Women's World Cup
259/8 - England Women vs Australia Women (Bristol in 2017) - Women's World Cup
249 - India Women vs Pakistan Women (Colombo, RPS in 2025) - Women's World Cup
245/7 - New Zealand Women vs Netherlands Women (Utrecht in 2002)

India Women vs Pakistan Women in the league stage match of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 at Colombo on Sunday (October 5) is running in a close battle in the first innings. However, at the end of the 34th over of the first innings, the match was halted for some unusual reason.

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, IND-W vs PAK-W: Match halted due to bug attacks

After winning the toss, Pakistan Women chose to field first. While India Women were fighting at 154/4 in 34 overs, just losing the wicket of set batter Harleen Deol, who missed her half-century by just four runs, there was a little halt in the game for an unusual reason. The bunches of bugs were disturbing both ends of the wickets as both Indian batters and Pakistan bowlers were struggling enough. The struggle was running for a long time as the Pakistan Women brought some sprays to discourage the bugs. However, it didn't work anyway. 

At the end of the 34th over, the umpires decided to go on a break and allow for the bug fumigation. Both teams left the field, and pest control tried to clear the bugs. The game restarted, but the situation didn't change much as the bugs were dominating once again. Even after the restart, both bowlers and batters were struggling to play.

[WATCH] 'Heads' turned into 'Tails?' Controversy boils over fixed toss during IND-W vs PAK-W clash of ICC Women's World Cup 2025

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, IND-W vs PAK-W: Indian batters struggling 

Indian batters are struggling to handle the Pakistan bowlers in their second match in the tournament. The Colombo pitch isn't looking strong for the batters, but the Indian batters lost their wickets regularly after getting settled down, as all the Indian batters lost their wickets after facing at least 30 balls. While Deol scored 46 runs, opener Pratika Rawal and Jemimah Rodrigues scored 31 and 32 runs, respectively. Another opener Smriti Mandhana scored 23 runs, and the skipper Harmanpreet Kaur fell on 19 runs. 

During the India Women vs Pakistan Women match at Colombo in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, while the Indian openers provided a solid start, the Pakistan bowlers also asked questions. While in the eighth over, Pakistan had an appeal against Smriti Mandhana, which was denied by the bowling end umpire, Pakistan took a review after a long discussion, but was it too late?

While Pakistan Women are eyeing their first historic victory against India Women in the Women's ODI, India Women are out to maintain their Women's ODI dominance against Pakistan Women to make it 12-0 in their favour. In their league stage battle in the World Cup on Sunday (October 5), Pakistan Women chose to bowl first. 

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, IND-W vs PAK-W: Indian openers had positive start

Indian openers Smriti Mandhana and Pratika Rawal provided a good start, as they had a 48-run partnership for the first wicket. After securing some quick runs through the fours, the Indian openers were facing challenges with tight bowling performances by the Pakistan bowlers. In the eighth over, after Mandhana hit a beautiful four to Diana Baig, the Pakistan bowler trapped her for an lbw appeal on the very next ball. As it seemed pitched outside the leg, the bowling end umpire confidently denied that appeal.

ICC Women's World Cup 2025, IND-W vs PAK-W: No handshake between captains at toss

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, IND-W vs PAK-W: Pakistan wasted review after taking DRS at end of timer

Pakistan players were not confident enough about the review, but they had a long talk, as it was a matter of a dangerous Smriti Mandhana's wicket. Just two seconds left in the DRS timer, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana first raised her hands to take the review, but she still hesitated and had a thought that took away the timer. It showed DRS timer 0 when the Pakistan skipper finally took the review. The umpire accepted that review and went to the TV umpire. As expected, the ball pitched outside the leg as Pakistan lost that review. While Mandhana hit another four on the next ball, she was dismissed by the Pakistan skipper in the next over with another lbw appeal, which the bowling end umpire accepted, and India lost a review. 

It is another Sunday (October 5), as the India and Pakistan cricket teams are facing each other on the cricket field, which now makes the rivalry meeting for four straight Sundays. Now, India Women and Pakistan Women are taking on each other in the sixth game of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025 at Colombo, where the IndIan skipper Harmanpreet Kaur maintained the no handshake strategy with the Pakistan captain Fatima Sana at the toss. 

Due to the present political tension between the two countries, India men's T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav chose not to shake hands with the Pakistan skipper Salman Ali Agha in all three fixtures of the Asia Cup 2025 over the previous three Sundays. The Indian team also didn't shake hands with the Pakistan cricketers at the end of all three matches in the Asia Cup 2025. And we all know the late drama after India winning the Asia Cup 2025 trophy by beating Pakistan in the Final by five wickets with two balls to spare. 

See Also: "Bring the Trophy..."- Salman Ali Agha sends special message for Pakistan side for Women's World Cup 2025

ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025: IND-W vs PAK-W - No handshakes between captains

Now, it's time for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. While India Women and Pakistan Women are facing each other in the league stage, the skippers were far from a handshake at the toss. Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana chose to bowl first after winning the toss in cloudy weather. 

India Women Playing XI: Pratika Rawal, Smriti Mandhana, Harleen Deol, Harmanpreet Kaur (Captain), Jemimah Rodrigues, Deepti Sharma, Richa Ghosh (wk), Sneh Rana, Renuka Singh Thakur, Kranti Gaud, Shree Charani

It is another Sunday, and once again India and Pakistan are set to face each other. This time, the tournament is different from the last three Sundays, when India and Pakistan had taken each other in the Men's Asia Cup 2025. Now, on this Sunday (October 5), India Women and Pakistan Women will face each other at Colombo for the league stage clash in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025. 

Hosts India Women started the tournament strongly after beating Sri Lanka Women by 59 runs (DLS method) in the rain-curtailed tournament opener at Guwahati. Meanwhile, Pakistan Women faced Bangladesh Women in their tournament opener, where Bangladesh Women claimed a seven-wicket victory after bundling Pakistan Women out for only 129 runs. While the hosts India Women are among the strong challengers for the tournament, Pakistan Women are under pressure.

See Also: Rohit Sharma’s fate sealed once Agarkar and Gambhir backed Shubman Gill

IND - W vs PAK - W in WODIs: Head-to-Head record is 11-0 for India Women

Unlike the popular rivalry between India Men and Pakistan Men, India Women have won all their 11 Women's ODI meetings against Pakistan Women, including four wins in the history of the Women's World Cup. Pakistan Women have only managed to beat India Women in the Women's T20Is, where India Women are leading in the winning numbers of 13-3. 

The present political relations between the two countries have also affected their men's cricket rivalry, as the Indian men's team didn't shake hands with the Pakistan men's team in their recent three meetings in the Asia Cup 2025, where India also didn't take the winning medals and trophy from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also the chief of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The area of focus is cricket: India Women bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi

Recently, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) secretary Devajit Saikia hinted that India Women may follow the same status against Pakistan Women, which India Men recently had against Pakistan Men in the Asia Cup 2025. However, on the eve of the India Women vs Pakistan Women match in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, the Indian bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi didn't clarify India Women's status regarding the handshake. He has emphasised that the team is focusing on the game.  

The Asia Cup 2025 has not only delivered thrilling cricket but also stirred up intense political drama. Incredibly, three consecutive Sundays witnessed India and Pakistan facing off, with tensions spilling beyond the field.

The Indian men’s team, after their final win, made headlines by refusing to shake hands with the Pakistan players. They also declined to accept the trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who doubles as a Pakistani minister. This decision by skipper Suryakumar Yadav set a strong precedent that drew significant attention worldwide.

With this backdrop, all eyes will now shift to the Women’s World Cup 2025. Harmanpreet Kaur, leading the Indian women’s side, will inevitably be under the spotlight when her team takes on Pakistan. How she and her squad handle the high-pressure atmosphere, both on and off the pitch, will be keenly watched, adding another layer of intrigue to the storied rivalry.India Women

See Also: WATCH: India's pace duo of Bumrah and Siraj strike early against West Indies in 1st test

Will India Women Follow the ‘No Handshake’ Trend?

When asked whether the Indian women’s team would take the same stance as the men’s side during the upcoming ODI World Cup clash against Pakistan, BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia avoided giving a direct yes-or-no reply.

Instead, he emphasized that the overall equation between India and Pakistan remains unchanged. His statement suggested that the dynamics off the field continue to influence cricketing relations, and the recent developments in the Asia Cup have not altered the broader picture. This leaves the approach of the women’s team open to speculation as they prepare for their high-stakes encounter.

Devajit Saikia said, “ I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that particular hostile country is the same; there is no change in the last week. India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed.”

He further said, “ I can only assure that whatever is in the MCC regulations of cricket, that will be done. Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment.”

Given the tense political climate between India and Pakistan, it seems improbable that players from both sides will engage in handshakes during their Women’s ODI World Cup clash. The atmosphere surrounding the rivalry has gone beyond the cricket field, and gestures of camaraderie appear unlikely when the two teams face each other on the global stage.

A source of BCCI said, “ The BCCI is aligned with the government, and there will be no customary handshake at the toss, no photo-shoot with the match referee, and no end-of-game handshakes. The policy followed by the men will also be implemented by the women.”

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur acknowledged that giving other batters batting opportunities in the Women’s Asia Cup match backfired after India lost by 13 runs to Pakistan. India had been experimenting with their batting order after their 41-run victory over Sri Lanka in the tournament’s opening match, which they won against Malaysia and the UAE. 

Dayalan Hemalatha, Pooja Vastrakar, and Deepti Sharma batted first in the match against Pakistan on Friday. Harmanpreet batted at number seven instead of her usual number four spot.However, the experiment did not produce the desired outcomes, and despite Richa Ghosh’s last-minute cameo of 26 runs off just 13 balls, India were bowled out for 124 in 19.4 overs, 13 runs short of their target.

“In the middle, we were trying to give the chance to other batters, which cost us today. Because you have to do that as the tournament goes on, but it backfired. It was a chaseable target. In the middle overs, we were not able to take singles and rotate strike, we played too many dot balls,” said Harmanpreet in the post-match presentation ceremony.

India’s 13-run defeat was only their third in T20Is against Pakistan and their first against their archrivals in the Women’s Asia Cup’s history.

“For me it is important that whoever is new in the side, they should good number of games heading into the World Cup, because whenever you change the side the players coming in should be ready. It was a great opportunity for others,”

added Harmanpreet.

After losing to Bangladesh in the 2018 Women’s Asia Cup final, the hosts and defending champions, India now have less than 24 hours to regroup and turn the tide.

“We are aware of that and never take any team lightly. It is a part of the game. Yesterday, Thailand played a good game. Today, they (Pakistan) played good cricket, and they came up trumps and deserved to win it. Going forward, we need to work on those areas and be strong,”

asserted Harmanpreet.

Bismah Maroof, captain of Pakistan, was overjoyed with her team’s flawless execution of their plans against India and praised senior all-rounder Nida Dar for her all-around performance with the bat and ball.

Pakistan reached 137/6 in 20 overs thanks to Nida’s attacking 56 not out off 37 balls.In her four off-spin overs, she had figures of 2/23 with the bat, including Harmanpreet’s wicket.

“Very important game for us after yesterday. We executed the things very well. How Nida batted beautifully. We just wanted to take calculated risks. Nida played a crucial innings for us and helped us get a good total. In the middle we were looking for gaps, and we know Nida can hit so we look to hit the strength areas. We didn’t assess the conditions well (yesterday). We read the conditions well today. We executed the plans very well today.”

she said

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Nida, adjudged as Player of the match for her all-round exploits, revealed that she was looking for her hitting zones with the bat to put India under pressure.

 “It was a slow start but I went there and talked to Bismah and she said look we have to make a partnership here. It was a good wicket for the batters but it was my role to play an innings like that. It was like I wanted to find my hitting areas. We need to work on our last three to four overs and need to finish well.”

she said.

As many as 1.2 million tickets have been sold for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games commencing on July 28, the coordinators have said, adding that the Women’s cricket match among India and Pakistan has “really caught the interest” of the local public.

Women’s cricket is making its debut at the Commonwealth Games, and India and Pakistan will be facing off at Edgbaston on July 31. The city is home to a significant number of Indian and Pakistani-origin people.

Addressing PTI, Birmingham Games CEO Ian Reid said the semi-final rounds and final tickets have previously been taken while he expects a housefull crowd even for the India-Pakistan fixture.

“I am a big cricket fan myself. India is in the same group as Pakistan so that has really caught the interest here in Birmingham. It is an iconic venue, your men’s team recently played here over the last few weeks. So it would certainly be one of the highlights of the Games,”

Reid said

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More than 5000 athletes will take part in the Games which will be the biggest sporting event in the UK since the London Olympics in 2012.

“The semifinals and final tickets have already been sold out, probably with the expectation that India and England will be there. India and Pakistan will be close to capacity. We will see an uptick in ticket sales much closer to the event. So I expect that India-Pakistan game to be sold out soon.”

He added

Reid further added that 1.2 million tickets have been sold for the event. They anticipate that that number should go up as they draw nearer to the Games. So by a wide margin the greatest game in the UK since London 2012. They will have around 45,000 workers and paid staff dealing with the occasion. It is a huge event for the region and the city.