A Pakistani journalist named Abyan Amir, who works for the newspaper Dawn, was stopped from asking a question during India’s press conference before the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup match against Pakistan on October 5, 2025, at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
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| Image Source: Hindustan Times |
He wanted to ask India’s bowling coach, Aavishkar Salvi, if the recent tension from the men’s Asia Cup matches would also affect the women’s teams. But before he could, the media manager interrupted him. The manager said that political questions were not allowed and asked the media to move on to other topics.
This incident came after several heated moments during the men’s Asia Cup 2025. In that tournament, India and Pakistan had many disputes. The Indian players refused to shake hands with the Pakistani players after every match. They did this to support the victims of the Pahalgam terror attack and to show solidarity with the Indian Army.
After India won the Asia Cup final, the team also refused to accept the trophy from Pakistan Cricket Board chief Mohsin Naqvi, who is also Pakistan’s Interior Minister and the president of the Asian Cricket Council. Naqvi later took the trophy back to his hotel instead of giving it to the Indian team. This caused a serious argument between the two cricket boards.
Before the women’s World Cup match, it was confirmed that the Indian women’s team would also not shake hands with the Pakistani players. They wanted to continue the same stand as the men’s team. India’s women’s team has never lost an ODI match against Pakistan.
They have won all 11 matches so far. The team began this tournament with a strong 59-run win over Sri Lanka. However, the match in Colombo faced a risk of rain, adding some uncertainty.
The political tension also affected players off the field. Pakistani cricketer Sahibzada Farhan caused controversy by putting a “GunMode” sticker on his bat and celebrating his fifty with a gunshot gesture during a match against India. Many Pakistani fans supported him, but the ICC gave him a warning.
Former Pakistan captain Sana Mir also upset Indian fans by making political remarks during a live commentary. She mentioned “Azad Kashmir,” which angered many Indian viewers. After that, several Indian fans demanded that the ICC take action against her.