Colombo: If it’s India versus Pakistan on a cricket field, controversy is round the corner, be it a men’s contest or a women’s game.
If the drama which played out three times over in the men’s Asia Cup last month in Dubai wasn’t enough, Sunday’s ICC Women’s World Cup match between India and Pakistan had more to offer.
It was expected that captains Harmanpreet Kaur and Fatima Sana won’t shake hands at the toss, in line with India’s policy of not extending any courtesies to Pakistanis even in a sporting arena, post the Pahalgam terror attack.
But the bigger talking point was who actually won the toss.
Harmanpreet spun the coin ahead of the match at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, and Fatima called ‘tails’, as was heard on live television.
The coin fell as ‘heads’, so India should have won the toss. However, Match Referee Shandre Fritz must have heard wrong, and invited Fatima to decide whether to bat or bowl first.
Harmanpreet didn’t object, neither did toss presenter Mel Jones point out the blunder, as the Pakistan captain said her team would bowl first.
It’s time for some batting firepower 💥
Pakistan win the toss and #TeamIndia will bat first! 🏏
Catch the LIVE action ➡ https://t.co/CdmEhf3jle#CWC25 👉 #INDvPAK | LIVE NOW on Star Sports network & JioHotstar! pic.twitter.com/bqYyKrwFLt
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) October 5, 2025
As the video clip of the toss went viral, Indian fans called out the match referee’s ‘big blunder’.
Despite the Pakistan skipper being clearly heard calling ‘tails’ and the coin coming down as ‘heads’, how could the match referee, who was closest to the captains, get it wrong, netizens questioned.
Some even called it ‘toss fixing’ to favour Pakistan.
Here are some of the reactions by netizens:
Toss Fixing !! The Pakistani captain says Tails, but the referee says Head. Lol
Tanveer Ahmed where are you now? @ImTanveerA
Talk about this blunder.pic.twitter.com/RP1gjBN7wE— Slogger (@kirikraja) October 5, 2025
आज वुमेंस #WorldCup में भारत और पाकिस्तान का मैच है।
टॉस उछाला गया हरमनप्रीत कौर द्वारा, पाकिस्तान की कप्तान ने कॉल कि ‘Tail’
लेकिन वहां मौजूद प्रेसेंटर ने कहा कि ‘Head’ कॉल किया गया है और ‘Head’ आया है..
मतलब ये क्या है? इतना बड़ा मंच, इतना बड़ा मैच.. कोई मजाक चल रहा है क्या? pic.twitter.com/n4tE8FMz3A
— Devesh Pandey (@devveshpandey) October 5, 2025
Toss Controversy 🚨
india vs Pakistan ICC Women’s World Cup Match Today.
🇮🇳 Harmanpreet Kaur flips the coin
🇵🇰 Fatima Sana calls TAILSHeads is the call from Pak
Says the anchorHeads it is says the referee
Pakistan wins the TossVideo 📷#INDvsPAK pic.twitter.com/xdodnKYrmy
— Globally Pop (@GloballyPop) October 5, 2025
What is the point of Toss here?
Match referee failed in her job miserably!
What was Harmanpreet doing here?Imagine the outage if India 🇮🇳 would have benefitted from this.#INDvsPAK #IndianCricket
— Ram kapoor🇮🇳 (@Ram1947_) October 5, 2025
