Coming off a first-up defeat against Bangladesh at the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2025, there's instant pressure on a Pakistan side which now matches up against powerhouse and rival India.

Close on the heels of the precedent set by the Indian men's cricket team during the Asia Cup in Dubai, the Indian women’s side will also not engage in customary handshakes with Pakistani players during their ICC Women's World Cup clash in Colombo on October 5, Indian media reported today, citing sources.

Both sides have already clashed twice in this edition, with India emerging victorious on both occasions.

The Indian juggernaut has crushed every opposition on their path before swaggering into the final of the eight-team tournament looking every inch the reigning 20-over world champions.

Farhan’s celebration after his half-century and Rauf’s gesture towards a section of fans while fielding on the boundary line are understood to be the incidents in question, both of which have been widely circulated on social media.

"India has outplayed Pakistan in every department over the last four or five years."

"According to me, if two teams play 15-20 matches, and if it is even, then it is a rivalry. 13-0, 10-1, I don't know what the stat is, but this is not a rivalry anymore."

Another high-voltage India–Pakistan clash is set for tomorrow in Dubai in the tournament’s Super Four stage.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav sidestepped the no-handshake issue ahead of the Asia Cup rematch against Pakistan in Dubai on Sunday, choosing to focus instead on the bat and ball.

Tensions simmered after the match as India's players left the field without shaking hands.

Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar slammed India for not shaking hands with the Pakistan players after their Asia Cup 2025 Group A match in Dubai on Sunday.

Kuldeep Yadav led the charge as India restricted Pakistan to 127-9 in a key Asia Cup clash on Sunday as the two countries met on the pitch for the first time since a military conflict between them in May.

In a surprising turn of events, hundreds of tickets for the much-anticipated India-Pakistan clash in the Asia Cup 2025 in Dubai remain unsold mere hours before the game, with organisers even slashing prices to attract spectators, according to multiple media reports.

Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has outlined two ways through which the Pakistan side can overcome India in their Asia Cup Group A match today in Abu Dhabi, and both involve their bowlers neutralising the opposition's batting threat.

In a video on social media, the former Pakistan speedster said he was well aware in advance that Pakistan was going to lose to India. He blamed “clueless management” for Pakistan’s poor performance.

Kohli's 51st ton in the format in Dubai led India to a comfortable victory over their arch-rivals and to the brink of the semifinals.

"For large parts of the Indian innings, a good number of people turned their backs to the match -- facing their friends instead of the screen, such was the disappointment," said the 45-year-old in the city of Karachi.

The archrivals face off in Dubai today at 3pm (Bangladesh Time) with the blockbuster clash expected to draw a packed house as the two teams only meet in multi-nation events due to political tensions.

India prevailed in seven of the eight completed ODIs in the last decade against rivals they play only in multi-team events because of a strained political relationship between the two countries.

Attention is turned to the contest between India and Pakistan at Dubai International Cricket Stadium and there is plenty on the line for both sides with just two teams from the group to progress to the semi-finals.