Pakistan, Oct 25 : Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana voiced her frustration after Colombo’s persistent rain led to yet another disruption in the ICC Women’s World Cup, with the 25th match between Sri Lanka and Pakistan abandoned after just 4.2 overs at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday night. The washout meant both teams shared a point, marking the fifth rain affected game in Colombo this tournament.
“The only thing that didn’t go in our favour was the weather,” said Fatima. “The ICC must arrange at least three reliable venues for the World Cup, because we wait four years to compete at this level.”
Reflecting on Pakistan’s campaign, the 22 year old captain praised her team’s bowling and fielding but acknowledged that batting remains a weak spot. “We gave a close fight to Australia and England but fell short. We need to play more cricket ahead of the T20 World Cup next year.”
On handling the pressures of captaincy, Fatima added, “Pressure is always there, but I try to stay calm. Like Kane Williamson, you must keep belief in your team even in tough moments.” She also shared a lighter anecdote, recalling a young fan who brightened her day during the tournament.
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu remained optimistic despite the weather setbacks. “We control what we can and focus on improving. We have a balanced mix of experienced players and talented youngsters, and my goal as captain is to encourage positive cricket,” she said. Chamari highlighted the team’s progress over the past year, including wins against top sides, and emphasized the need to strengthen batting in longer formats.
The rain hit fixture concludes Colombo’s challenging leg of the tournament, with the Women’s World Cup now moving to India, where players and fans hope for uninterrupted cricket.