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‘Won’t make a big difference’: Pakistan women’s coach Wahab Riaz reacts to no-hanshake policy in IND vs PAK cricket matches originally appeared on Cricket News. Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• Pakistan women’s coach Wahab Riaz says India’s no-handshake policy won’t make a big difference after their 64-run defeat at Edgbaston.

• Riaz admitted he was unaware of the reason behind the policy, having left cricket some time ago.

• India won convincingly with Deepti Sharma claiming a five-wicket haul to open their Women’s T20 WC 2026 campaign.

Pakistan women’s coach Wahab Riaz reacts to the no-handshake policy in IND vs PAK cricket matches

India’s 64-run victory at Edgbaston delivered the on-field verdict to a match played under significant diplomatic tension. The no-handshake policy was maintained at the toss and post-match, and Pakistan head coach Wahab Riaz was asked about it in the press conference.

The former Pakistan left-arm seamer, now in his first global tournament as Pakistan Women’s head coach after taking charge at the start of 2026, was asked to describe the relationship between both camps behind the scenes and whether the mood between players had become frosty.

“I’m sorry to ask this, but we noticed there were no handshakes again today. What’s the relationship like between the players and the staff from the two different teams? Are you friendly behind the scenes, or is it just frosty?” the reporter asked as quoted by NDTV Sports.

Riaz’s response was measured and diplomatic, acknowledging he had been away from the game for some time and was unaware of the reasons behind India’s no-handshake stance. He declined to take a position on whether the policy was appropriate or required changing.

“See, I don’t know. I just left Cricket way before, so I don’t know the reason for not shaking hands. But I think if things want to move like this, let’s go like that. It won’t make a big difference,” said Riaz.

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Did India and Pakistan players shake hands during IND vs PAK Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 clash?

When India captain Harmanpreet Kaur won the toss at Edgbaston on Sunday evening, she turned immediately to broadcaster Mel Jones for her post-toss interview.

There was no pause, no outstretched hand toward Fatima Sana. The no-handshake policy, now well-established across all India-Pakistan cricket fixtures, continued without ceremony.

It had been the same at the end of the match. Players from both sides dispersed to their respective dressing rooms once the final ball was bowled, with no post-match handshakes between the teams. What might once have been considered a diplomatic incident is increasingly being described as simply the new normal.

A policy spanning all India-Pakistan encounters

The no-handshake policy has been in place across every India-Pakistan cricket meeting since the Pahalgam terror attack in May 2025.

India’s Operation Sindoor military response worsened bilateral relations, and the BCCI instructed players to avoid the customary gestures with their Pakistani counterparts.

Since then, players across all formats in men’s and women’s cricket have avoided shaking hands with Pakistan players every time the two nations have come face-to-face in ICC and ACC competitions.

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Pakistan’s focus on moving forward

Riaz’s broader post-match assessment was focused on the cricket itself. He acknowledged that concentration lapses at key moments in both innings had cost Pakistan, but insisted the side was adapting to his new approach and that positive results would follow.

Deepti Sharma’s five-wicket haul was the highlight of India’s comprehensive win, combining with Smriti Mandhana’s 68 off 44 balls to produce a performance that reinforced their status as strong tournament favourites. For Wahab Riaz, the no-handshake question is simply not his to answer.

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