COLOMBO: It’s the fourth consecutive Sunday of a Pakistan-India cricket encounter — only this time, the scorching heat of Dubai has been replaced by Colombo’s humid, rain-laden skies, and the players on the field are women.
Yet, beneath the surface, the gulf between the two women’s teams remains glaring. Across the border, Indian cricketers enjoy lucrative opportunities like the Women’s Premier League (WPL), where top players earn upwards of $400,000. In contrast, many Pakistani domestic players receive monthly retainers below the national minimum wage, exposing the stark disparity in resources and recognition.
As the two sides prepare to clash in the Women’s Asia Cup, India enters the fixture buoyed by a win over co-hosts Sri Lanka, while Pakistan seeks redemption after a loss to Bangladesh — a team they had easily beaten during the Qualifiers in April.
Skipper Fatima Remains Upbeat
Despite the setback, Pakistan’s captain Fatima Sana struck a confident tone at Saturday’s pre-match press conference. “Our main goal is to play, and our focus is only on cricket… whatever comes in the spirit of the game, we try to maintain that,” she said, referring indirectly to last month’s controversies over handshakes in the men’s Asia Cup.
Fatima also recalled moments of warmth between both teams — like the 2022 Women’s World Cup in New Zealand, when Indian players affectionately interacted with Bismah Maroof’s baby, also named Fatima. The Indian camp, meanwhile, chose to send bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi to the media briefing, avoiding politically charged questions about the India-Pakistan rivalry.
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Weather and Qualification Worries
Pakistan’s route to the next round faces another hurdle. Saturday’s rain-hit fixture in Colombo — where Sri Lanka and Australia shared points — may complicate Fatima’s hopes of a top-four finish.
Persistent rainfall kept the square under covers for most of the day, raising expectations of a bowler-friendly pitch. Pakistan’s Diana Baig, in strong rhythm, and India’s Sneh Rana, the second-highest ODI wicket-taker this year, are expected to lead their respective attacks.
“Everyone knows she’s one of our best players,” Fatima said of Diana. “She’s a good bowler and also a very good fielder — it definitely boosts our team.”
Echoing her comments after the Bangladesh defeat, Fatima dismissed concerns over toss or conditions: “The pitch doesn’t matter much; all we have to do is play good cricket after assessing the situation.”
A Record Waiting to Be Broken
Pakistan has never beaten India in an ODI — losing all 11 previous encounters. However, their T20 record offers hope, with three victories over India, including their first-ever World Cup win in 2012 — nine years before the men’s team achieved the same feat.
“Records are meant to be broken,” Fatima declared. “We won’t go on past histories but will take the match on the day and try to execute our plans.”
With rain predicted for Sunday, the Women in Green may find a silver lining — a washed-out or shortened match could tilt the odds slightly in their favour. If Pakistan’s bowlers rise to the occasion and the weather gods play kind, Fatima’s team could finally rewrite history in Colombo.