Pakistan’s campaign in the 13th edition of the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup came to a damp and disappointing end in Colombo, where their final league match against Sri Lanka was washed out after just 4.2 overs. Skipper Chamari Athapaththu won the toss and sent Pakistan in to bat, but heavy rain forced both teams to settle for a single point.
It was an all-too-familiar outcome for Fatima Sana’s side in a tournament where weather, inconsistency, and inexperience combined to halt their progress. Pakistan concluded their campaign in 7th place with 3 points from 7 matches, registering 4 defeats and enduring 3 rain-soaked no-results, all at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
For Pakistan, the World Cup never quite found rhythm. The team opened with a 7-wicket defeat to Bangladesh on 2nd October, where Nigar Sultana Joty’s side chased down their modest target with ease. Just three days later, they suffered a heavy 88-run loss against India, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, before Australia added another setback, winning by 107 runs, to leave Pakistan reeling after the first week.
Though their spirited bowling spells kept them visible on the contest’s radar, their batting frailties remained the recurring theme. Fatima Sana reflected candidly on the imbalance: “I think we were very good on the bowling side and the fielding side, but I think we are lacking in the batting. We were up to a very good mark against Australia and England, but unfortunately, we were not crossing the main line,” she admitted.
When the rain arrived mid-tournament, fortune deserted them even further. Their encounter against England on 15th October looked promising; chasing 113 in a shortened 31-over clash, Pakistan were well placed at 34/0 before rain returned to wash the contest away. Three days later, against New Zealand, they were struggling at 92/5 in the 25th over when the heavens opened again. On 21st October, they faced their toughest defeat, a 150-run thrashing by South Africa, after being set a steep 234 in a rain-reduced 20-over chase.
For Fatima Sana, the youngest captain in the tournament, the World Cup became a crash course in resilience and leadership. Despite her side’s struggles, she carried perspective and maturity beyond her years. “Of course, I am in a learning phase, and I am always watching Kane Williamson; he almost lost a very close World Cup, but still, he is smiling,” she said. “As a captain and as the youngest captain, you have to believe in yourself. Hopefully, in the next World Cup and in the next matches, we are a much stronger team.”
“The only thing is weather did not go in our favour in the England match and the other matches. ICC must arrange good venues for the World Cup because we are waiting for four years. We are not playing much cricket in the recent past. Definitely we need much more cricket after the World Cups. Next year, we have the T20 World Cup as well, and hopefully we get more cricket and we prepare well for the next big event,” she added.
Her reflections extended beyond tactics and results, touching on inspiration and legacy. She spoke warmly about her connection with young fans, particularly a mascot who handed her a heartfelt note before the national anthem, asking Fatima to “please call me, I’m your biggest fan.” It was a reminder that representation and visibility in Pakistan women’s cricket carry a deeper meaning. “You hold their hands; you are going out to play. They are the stars of the future,” she added with a smile.
Pakistan’s campaign may read as a case of missed opportunities, but it also underscored the necessity of consistent international exposure. As Fatima noted, “We have not been playing much cricket in the recent past; we just qualified after one series. So, I think we definitely need much more cricket after the World Cup.”
With a T20 World Cup scheduled next year and two bilateral series expected under the PCB’s calendar, the focus now shifts from reflection to reconstruction. For Pakistan, the challenge lies not in dwelling on what the rain took away, but in ensuring the next time skies clear, their cricket does too.
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