As the world sharpens its gaze on women’s cricket’s biggest stage, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has thrown down the hype, declaring the much-anticipated India-Pakistan encounter as “the match of the tournament.” Her comments, delivered in an exclusive interview with Telecom Asia Sport, set the tone for an ICC Women’s ODI World Cup that promises both sporting rivalry and geopolitical subtext.
“We all know India versus Pakistan will be the match of the tournament. The key is to remain calm and treat it like any other game,” Sana remarked, emphasising mental composure ahead of the October 5 clash slated for Colombo, Sri Lanka.
For Pakistan’s women, the road to the 2025 World Cup was paved not by direct qualification but by a hard-fought clean sweep in April’s Qualifiers in Lahore. The team won all five group games, toppling West Indies en route, and clinched a coveted place among world cricket’s elite. The achievement reverberated across the dressing room, filling Sana’s squad with renewed confidence.
Beyond cricketing skill, the fixture crackles with the charge of diplomatic history. With persistent political tensions, bilateral cricket has vanished, replaced by meetings only on neutral soil during multi-nation events. This year’s “fusion formula,” a pragmatic agreement between the respective boards, means Pakistan will play all their World Cup fixtures in Sri Lanka, unlike the other seven teams, who will shuttle between India and Sri Lanka.
The India-Pakistan game in Colombo, a stadium set to brim with expats and neutrals alike, thus becomes more than a contest: it is cricket’s testament to rivalry outlasting borders.
The statistics are daunting. Pakistan’s women have never beaten India in an ODI, losing all 11 encounters, including at the 2009, 2017, and most recently the 2022 World Cups. Sana, who took the field in the 2022 loss at Mount Maunganui, is under no illusions.
“India is a strong side and recently won in England. But if we play to our potential, we believe we can win,” she said, signalling the mix of respect and ambition fueling the Pakistani campaign.
Preparation will be key, and Pakistan’s itinerary reflects it. Three away T20Is in Ireland and a trio of ODIs at home against South Africa precede the World Cup, offering chances to test combinations and build resilience.
“Pressure is always there in an India-Pakistan game,” Sana admitted. “But we’ll keep the team grounded and focused. If we stay calm, we can deliver.”
With history, politics, and hope converging on a single October evening in Colombo, it is not just a match; it is the match. For Fatima Sana and her team, the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup offers the chance to finally rewrite the script, one ball at a time.
(Quotes sourced from TelecomAsia.net)
