Cricket

No Handshake Moment! Harmanpreet Kaur Skips Gesture With Fatima Sana at T20 World Cup 2026

India vs Pakistan clash begins with tension at toss as handshake tradition is skipped at Edgbaston.

Published

3 months ago

June 15, 2026

Tabish

Harmanpreet Kaur Skips Handshake With Fatima Sana | India vs Pakistan T20 WC 2026

Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana at toss as India vs Pakistan clash begins with a tense moment.

A moment of visible tension marked the start of the high-voltage India vs Pakistan clash in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026, as Harmanpreet Kaur did not shake hands with Pakistan captain Fatima Sana during the toss at Edgbaston, Birmingham on June 14.

Tension at the Toss

After winning the toss, Harmanpreet turned towards the broadcaster instead of exchanging the customary handshake with Fatima Sana.

This small but noticeable gesture quickly grabbed attention, especially given the intense rivalry between India and Pakistan in cricket.

India vs Pakistan: Rivalry Stats

This match marked the ninth meeting between the two teams in the Women’s T20 World Cup.

India wins: 6️⃣
Pakistan wins: 2️⃣

Overall in Women’s T20 Internationals:

India: 13 wins
Pakistan: 3 wins

These numbers reflect India’s dominance, but the rivalry remains highly competitive and emotionally charged.

Harmanpreet’s Response

When asked about the handshake tradition earlier, Harmanpreet chose to stay focused on cricket rather than controversy.

“Our focus is on the game.”

She avoided directly addressing the “no handshake policy,” keeping the emphasis on performance rather than off-field matters.

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What is the ‘No Handshake’ Policy?

The “no handshake” approach reportedly started during the Men’s Asia Cup last year and has since been observed in several tournaments, including:

ICC events
U19 World Cup
Women’s ODI World Cup

This explains why such moments, though unusual to fans, are becoming more common in high-profile India-Pakistan encounters.

Previous Encounter Context

The two teams last faced each other in the ODI World Cup in Sri Lanka, where India, led by Harmanpreet, secured a convincing 88-run victory.

This added more intensity to the latest clash, making it one of the most anticipated matches of the tournament.

Final Takeaway

While the skipped handshake created headlines, both teams remain focused on delivering strong performances on the field.

“In high-pressure rivalries like India vs Pakistan, even small moments can spark big discussions — but ultimately, the game itself takes center stage.”