Pakistan women’s cricket captain Fatima Sana has called the India clash “the highlight match” of the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup — a high-pressure fixture shaped by not just history, but heightened political tensions between the two nations.
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.
Road to Redemption: Pakistan’s Qualifying Sweep
Having failed to qualify directly through the ICC Women’s Championship, Pakistan had to earn their World Cup spot the hard way — through the Qualifiers.
In April, the team impressed in Lahore, winning all five matches in the Qualifying round. The clean sweep knocked out West Indies and confirmed Pakistan’s place in the 2025 Women’s ODI World Cup, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka from September to October.
We’ve carried momentum from the Qualifiers. That gives us confidence heading into the World Cup.
Political Tensions Force Neutral Ground
Due to continued diplomatic strain between India and Pakistan, the two sides have only met in multi-nation tournaments such as World Cups and the Champions Trophy in recent years.
With India refusing to travel to Pakistan for this year’s Champions Trophy, the two boards agreed on a “fusion formula”: bilateral matches will only be played at neutral venues until 2027.
That’s why, unlike the other seven participating nations, Pakistan will play all its World Cup games in Sri Lanka, while the rest will shuttle between India and Sri Lanka.
The high-voltage India-Pakistan clash is scheduled for October 5 in Colombo.
Winless Streak: History Favors India
Pakistan’s women have never beaten India in an ODI, having lost all 11 encounters to date — including in the 2009, 2017, and 2022 World Cups.
Fatima Sana, who featured in the side that lost by 107 runs at Mount Maunganui in the 2022 edition, acknowledged India’s strength: “India is a strong side and recently won in England. But if we play to our potential, we believe we can win.”
Eyes on Preparation: Ireland and South Africa Series Before the Big Stage
In the lead-up to the World Cup, Pakistan has lined up a solid build-up:
• Three T20Is in Ireland
• Three ODIs at home vs South Africa
These series will give the team a chance to test combinations and refine strategies ahead of their biggest challenge yet.
Pressure is always there in an India-Pakistan game. But we’ll keep the team grounded and focused. If we stay calm, we can deliver.
