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All-rounder Deepti Sharma chose to remain diplomatically silent about whether India’s women cricket team would follow their male counterparts’ lead by refusing handshakes with Pakistan during their upcoming Women’s ODI World Cup clash on October 5. Speaking on the eve of the second ODI against Australia in New Chandigarh, Deepti deliberately deflected questions about the potential controversy while keeping her focus firmly on the immediate challenge.
The anticipation stems from the recent handshake snub during the Men’s Asia Cup match, where captain Suryakumar Yadav and his team declined customary post-match pleasantries with Pakistan following their seven-wicket victory in Dubai. The incident sparked diplomatic tensions and formal complaints from the Pakistan Cricket Board, creating a backdrop of uncertainty for the women’s encounter.
Deepti Sharma’s measured response to the no handshake controversy
When directly questioned about the women’s team stance on handshakes during their October 5 World Cup fixture in Colombo, Deepti maintained careful neutrality. “That match is far away and when it happens we will see what to do” she stated during Tuesday’s press conference. Her diplomatic approach emphasized the team’s current priorities, adding “We are not focussing on the Asia Cup at the moment; our focus is on this series“.
The spinning all-rounder’s response mirrors the women’s team strategy of avoiding political entanglements while preparing for their maiden World Cup triumph. Unlike the men’s team, which faced mounting social media pressure and government alignment regarding the handshake boycott, the women appear determined to maintain sporting focus ahead of their historic opportunity in the 50-over tournament.
Deepti’s comments came against the backdrop of India’s disappointing eight-wicket defeat to Australia in the opening ODI, where fielding lapses cost them dearly despite posting a competitive 281. The team dropped four crucial catches, allowing Phoebe Litchfield to score 88 after being dismissed twice, while Beth Mooney‘s unbeaten 77 and Annabel Sutherland‘s 54 guided Australia to a comfortable victory with nearly six overs remaining.
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ICC Women’s ODI World Cup stakes and team preparations
The India-Pakistan women’s encounter represents more than just another group match in the World Cup tournament. Scheduled for 3:00 PM IST at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, this fixture will be played under intense scrutiny given the recent diplomatic tensions. Both teams enter the tournament with significant ambitions – India seeking their first-ever World Cup title while Pakistan aim to break their trophy drought.
However, Deepti’s focus remained resolutely on cricket matters during her press interaction. She expressed confidence about India’s chances of bouncing back in the Australia series, stating “We would rather take the positives away from the match like the partnerships we had in our inning and the small things we were able to do well“. Her optimistic outlook extended to the team’s World Cup preparations, emphasizing that “we don’t think there is much of a gap between Australia and India. We always play to win“.
The timing of Deepti’s comments proved significant as they came just as Pakistan’s demands for ICC action were being rejected, with the cricket body refusing to remove match referee Andy Pycroft despite formal complaints. This development adds another layer of complexity to the women’s upcoming encounter, though Deepti’s diplomatic stance suggests the team intends to let their cricket do the talking rather than engage in political posturing.
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This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
