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- Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana says team focused solely on game despite rivalry backdrop
- BCCI hints Indian players may again avoid handshakes as political tension spills into sport
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan and India are set to meet today, Sunday, in a much-anticipated encounter at the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, though persistent rain in Colombo threatens to disrupt play at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Pakistan are seeking to bounce back after a heavy opening defeat to Bangladesh, while India come in with confidence following their win against Sri Lanka. Forecasts predict intermittent showers throughout the day, and officials have warned that the weather could interrupt or even shorten the match. Heavy rain in Colombo also forced the cancelation of Saturday’s fixture between Sri Lanka and Australia.
India have an unbeaten record against Pakistan in women’s One-Day Internationals, winning all 11 previous encounters. Pakistan will play all their group-stage matches in Colombo, with both the semifinal (Oct. 29) and the final (Nov. 2) also scheduled for the same venue.
The contest comes amid renewed political tension after the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) suggested its players may again avoid handshakes with their Pakistani counterparts, continuing a policy adopted during the men’s Asia Cup earlier this year.
“I cannot forecast anything, but our relationship with that country [Pakistan] is the same, there is no change in the last week,” BCCI Secretary Devajit Saikia told the BBC.
“India will play that match against Pakistan in Colombo, and all cricket protocols will be followed. Whether there will be handshakes, whether there will be hugging, I cannot assure you of anything at this moment.”
His comments follow India’s widely criticized conduct at the Asia Cup 2025, when its men’s team refused pre- and post-match handshakes with Pakistani players and declined to receive the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, who also chairs the Pakistan Cricket Board and is the country’s interior minister.
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana said her team remained focused on performance and unity despite off-field politics.
“Our main goal is to play well. Our relationship with the other teams is good. We will try to fulfil the spirit of the game,” she told reporters on Saturday.
Asked whether she would miss the camaraderie seen during the 2022 World Cup, when Indian players gathered around then-Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof and her infant daughter, Fatima said such gestures were welcome but secondary to performance.
“What happened before, like with Bismah’s daughter, when everyone mingled and enjoyed together — as players, we all like such moments. But the main thing is to stay focused on what we have come here for,” she said.
Trailing India 11-0 in their head-to-head record, Fatima dismissed talk of odds being stacked against her team, insisting Pakistan have the talent to defeat top sides.
“Records are meant to be broken,” she said.
The tournament runs from September 30 to November 2 across India and Sri Lanka.