In a rare moment of camaraderie between two traditionally tense neighbours, blind women cricketers from India and Pakistan set aside political strains on Sunday, exchanging warm handshakes and compliments during what organisers hail as the world’s first blind women’s T20 tournament. The symbolic display, witnessed in Sri Lanka, stood in stark contrast to the recent friction between the nations’ sighted cricket teams.
The gesture came during a group-stage match at the Free Trade Zone grounds in Katunayake, around 30 kilometres north of Colombo. India secured a comfortable eight-wicket victory, chasing down Pakistan’s 135 for eight in just 10.2 overs. Yet, it was the scenes after the match — rather than the result — that drew attention. Despite no handshake taking place after the toss, both sides greeted each other warmly at the end, exchanging encouraging words and applauding one another enthusiastically.
At what organisers describe as the world’s first blind women’s T20 tournament, players from the two South Asian neighbours showed they had sporting vision even if they lacked sight — unlike their regular national teams.https://t.co/bjOYC7dthg
— Dawn.com (@dawn_com) November 16, 2025
Relations between the regular cricket teams of both countries have deteriorated sharply in recent months, following a deadly military clash in May. Hostility later seeped onto the field: India’s men refused to shake hands with Pakistan during the September Asia Cup, while the women’s sides avoided greetings at the recent T20 World Cup. Even at Sunday’s men’s Rising Stars Asia Cup match in Doha, both teams declined the customary post-match handshake.
Given this backdrop, the sportsmanship displayed by the blind women’s teams surprised both organisers and viewers. Travelling to the ground together on the same bus, players put rivalry aside and embraced the spirit of the game, though neither team was allowed to speak to the press after the match.
The tournament itself represents a milestone for visually impaired women’s sport. Broadcast live on Sri Lanka’s national television, it has been celebrated by officials and advocates as a platform for increased participation. “This is the first-ever World Cup for blind women… one of the biggest opportunities for our visually impaired girls,” Indian team manager Shika Shetty said, expressing hope that the event would inspire more women with disabilities to pursue sport and education.
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Blind cricket relies heavily on auditory skills, with players tracking a white plastic ball filled with rattling ball bearings. Teams must field a mix of completely blind, low-vision, and partially sighted players, while bowling is performed underarm.
Alongside India and Pakistan, teams from Australia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and the United States are competing in the event, which began in India before shifting to Sri Lanka for its concluding stages. The final is scheduled for next Sunday in Colombo.
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