Pakistan captain Fatima Sana made it clear that her team is focused on playing good cricket and respecting the game’s spirit ahead of their Women’s World Cup match against India at R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Sunday. She said the players are not distracted by controversies surrounding the recent India-Pakistan men’s matches and they only want to give their best on the field.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Fatima highlighted the unity inside the camp. “Absolutely, the first thing is, if we see ourselves, we are like a family — 20 or 22 people together. So our focus is not so much on what’s happening outside. Obviously whatever happens, we notice in the surroundings,” she said.
Fatima, who became Pakistan’s captain last year after Nida Dar, said playing in a World Cup is a special chance for everyone. “But the point is, our focus remains on the game, because obviously the World Cup is an event that every player waits for. So we try that since we are here, we focus on what we came here for,” she added.
Recalling the friendly scenes during the 2022 World Cup, when Indian players spent time with then Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof’s daughter, Fatima underlined her team’sapproach. “Obviously, our main goal is to play. When we come here, the focus is on the game. We try to maintain good relations with other teams, and whatever is spirit of the game, we try to fulfil it. But the first thing is to focus on why we are here.”
Pakistan lost against Bangladesh in their opening match and will hope to make a comeback against India on Sunday.
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