Blind women cricketers from India and Pakistan share rare goodwill amid tense relations
Katunayake
Blind women from India and Pakistan set aside months of political and sporting hostility, sharing warm handshakes and compliments during their Women’s Blind T20 World Cup encounter in neutral Sri Lanka. The gesture, simple yet powerful, stood in stark contrast to recent tensions between the two cricketing nations, whose sighted men’s and women’s teams have avoided handshakes in high-profile tournaments this year.
The match, played at the Free Trade Zone grounds in Katunayake, saw both squads arrive together on the same bus and later greet one another with enthusiasm despite expectations that they would follow the frosty precedent set by their mainstream counterparts. India’s blind players, initially expected to mirror the no-handshake stance, surprised many by warmly greeting the Pakistani side at the end of the match. Compliments were exchanged freely, and the spirit of cricket prevailed.
On the field, India cruised to an eight-wicket win, chasing down Pakistan’s 135 for eight in just 10.2 overs. Pakistan captain Nimra Rafique congratulated India on their dominant performance, while Indian skipper T.C. Deepika commended Pakistan’s effort. Though neither team was allowed to speak to the media post-match, their actions told a larger story.
Despite a sparse crowd, the game was telecast live on Sri Lanka’s national broadcaster, with visually impaired officials following commentary online. Indian team manager Shika Shetty said the tournament marked a “biggest opportunity” for visually impaired girls, encouraging more young women with disabilities to pursue sport and education. Pakistan coach Tahir Mehmood Butt echoed the sentiment, applauding the platform the tournament offers.
With teams from Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and the US also competing, the event highlights the growing momentum of women’s blind cricket. The final will be played next Sunday in Colombo.