Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana, didn’t hide behind excuses after her side’s defeat to India in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025 at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. Calm, composed and refreshingly honest, she spoke about where things went wrong and where Pakistan need to tighten up as the tournament moves forward.
“We Lost Control in the Powerplay”
Speaking after the match, Fatima Sana admitted her team struggled to contain India’s scoring in the key phases of the innings.
“I think at the start, in the powerplay, we gave away too many runs and lost a few extras. In the death overs as well, we conceded additional runs,” she said.
She also mentioned helping pacer Diana Baig adjust to conditions.
“When I bowl, it feels like it’s seaming, but I think Danny was a little confused about the seam or swing, so I kept guiding her. I think she will be fine in the next match,” she added.
It was a captain’s perspective rooted in responsibility, not blame. Fatima acknowledged that restricting India to under 200 would have been ideal, but Pakistan still allowed “a few runs here and there” to slip through.
Pakistan’s Chase Falters
Chasing 248, Pakistan’s innings never quite found rhythm. The start was shaky. Muneeba Ali was run out for just two after a bizarre moment of confusion in the fourth over, while Sadaf Shamas (6) and Aliya Riaz (2) fell cheaply to India’s Kranti Goud, leaving Pakistan reeling at 26-3 inside 12 overs.
From there, Sidra Amin and Natalia Parvaiz tried to rebuild, stitching together a fighting 69-run stand. The partnership briefly steadied the innings, but once Parvaiz departed for 33 off 46, the collapse resumed.
Sidra Amin, however, stood firm. Calm, assured, and determined, she notched up a gritty 81 off 106 balls, her 13th ODI fifty and first against India. It was a knock that demanded respect.
“Sidra is a main player in our squad and works very hard,” Fatima said. “With Allah’s help, hopefully, she will perform well in the upcoming matches too.”
But beyond Sidra, support was fleeting. Fatima herself managed just two runs, while Sidra Nawaz (14) and Rameen Shamim (0) offered little resistance.
Once Amin fell to Sneh Rana, Pakistan’s hopes faded quickly. They were eventually bowled out for 159 in 43 overs, handing India an 88-run win.
India Extend Their Dominance
For India, it was business as usual in this storied rivalry. Their bowlers shared the spoils; Deepti Sharma and Kranti Goud bagged three wickets apiece, while Sneh Rana chipped in with two.
The win stretched India’s unbeaten record against Pakistan to 12-0 overall, and 5-0 in World Cups, underscoring the gulf that still exists between the two sides in women’s cricket.
“Our Batters Need to Step Up”
Despite back-to-back losses, Fatima Sana remains optimistic. She believes the middle order has the potential to turn things around; it’s just about execution.
“I still believe today’s batting lineup is strong because the top five are pure batters. They need to step up,” she said. “A couple of games haven’t gone the way we wanted, but there’s still much to play in the tournament.”
The Road Ahead
Two games in, Pakistan sit near the bottom of the table with two losses, but it’s far from over. With a single round-robin format, all eight teams play each other once, and the top four qualify for the semi-finals.
Pakistan’s next challenge is A big one as they are set to face defending champions Australia on 8 October. It’s a daunting prospect, but as Fatima put it, there’s still time to regroup and fight back.
Stay tuned to Brandsynario for the latest news and updates.
