https://arab.news/8zgz3
- The captains did not shake hands during the toss amid political tensions between the two South Asian neighbors
- India’s Amanjot Kaur, who made a half-century in tournament opener against Sri Lanka, ruled out due to illness
COLOMBO: Pakistan captain Fatima Sana won the toss and elected to bowl in the women’s cricket World Cup match against archrival India at R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.
The captains did not shake hands during the toss amid political tensions between the two South Asian neighbors, a trend carried over from the recently concluded men’s Asia Cup in the United Arab Emirates.
India has accused Pakistan of being involved in attacks on tourists that killed dozens. Islamabad denies it.
India men’s team captain Suryakumar Yadav refused to shake hands with his Pakistani counterpart in the first preliminary-round match between the two sides, prompting Pakistan to threaten to boycott the game. Commentators and fans blamed both sides for behaving against the spirit of the game during the tournament.
India and Pakistan ended up progressing to the tournament final, which ended in acrimonious fashion after India captain Yadav refused to accept the winner’s trophy from Asian Cricket Council chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s interior minister.
In Sunday’s game, India’s Amanjot Kaur, who made a half-century in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka, has been ruled out due to illness. Pakistan made one change from the side that lost to Bangladesh, bringing in Sadaf Shamas in place of Omaima Sohail.