Gone are the heartwarming scenes from the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup, when Indian players were spotted sharing a tender moment with former Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof and her baby daughter, Fatima. This time, as India prepare to face Pakistan in their second match of the ongoing World Cup at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday, the atmosphere is charged with emotion rather than camaraderie, set against the backdrop of strained relations between the two nations.
After three straight Sundays dominated by India-Pakistan clashes in the men’s Asia Cup, it’s now the women’s turn to take the spotlight, though history offers little uncertainty about how this contest might unfold. India and Pakistan have played 27 times in women’s internationals across formats with the Women-in-Blue holding a commanding 24-3 advantage, while Pakistan’s three wins coming only in T20 cricket.
In ODIs, India have a 100 percent record, winning all 11 matches between the two sides.
In the ongoing World Cup, both teams kicked off their campaign in contrasting fashion. While hosts India began with a 59-run victory against co-hosts Sri Lanka in Guwahati, Pakistan were humiliated by seven wickets at the hands of Bangladesh in their tournament opener.
India currently sit fourth on the points table after every team has played one match, and Harmanpreet Kaur’s side will look to capitalise on the upcoming clash to improve their net run rate, a factor that could prove decisive as the tournament progresses.
India enter the contest brimming with confidence. Their depth and resilience were on full display in the opener, where the lower middle order staged a remarkable recovery from 124 for 6 to post a total exceeding 250 in 47 overs. While India’s batting remains their biggest strength despite the hiccup against Sri Lanka, the team will hope for greater composure and application from the top order against stronger bowling units.
The Colombo surface showed ample seam movement early on during the Bangladesh–Pakistan fixture, which could prompt India to include frontline pacer Renuka Singh. Having returned from injury during the recent Australia series, Renuka appeared slightly rusty in training on Friday.
Pakistan, meanwhile, will be focused on rectifying their batting woes after an underwhelming performance in their opener. The lineup crumbled under pressure, losing wickets in clusters, including a hit-wicket and failed to put together meaningful partnerships.
Their bowling, led by Fatima Sana and Diana Baig, was disciplined but lacked sufficient runs to defend. Though Pakistan may gain from the familiarity of playing all their matches at the same venue, they will need a significant turnaround to mount a serious challenge against a formidable Indian side.
Besides the on-field action, the contest carries added tension escalated after the recent handshake controversy in the men’s Asia Cup. On Sunday, Harmanpreet Kaur’s side is also expected to do an encore of the men’s team by skipping the customary handshake with their Pakistani counterparts, underlining the frosty relation between the two countries.
Squads:
India: Harmanpreet Kaur (captain), Smriti Mandhana (vice captain), Pratika Rawal, Harleen Deol, Jemimah Rodrigues, Richa Ghosh, Uma Chetry, Renuka Singh Thakur, Deepti Sharma, Sneh Rana, Sree Charani, Radha Yadav, Amanjot Kaur, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Gaud.
Pakistan: Fatima Sana (captain), Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (vice captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Syeda Aroob Shah