Pakistan to Skip Women’s World Cup Opening Ceremony in India

The Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team has announced that it will not attend the opening ceremony of the ICC Women’s World Cup in Guwahati, India, on September 30, 2023. This decision comes ahead of the tournament opener, which features co-hosts India and Sri Lanka. The ceremony is set to include a performance by renowned Indian singer Shreya Ghoshal, marking a significant cultural event for the tournament.

Sources have confirmed to Geo News that neither captain Fatima Sana nor any other representative from Pakistan will be present at the ceremony. The absence is believed to stem from a newly adopted policy that prohibits the two nations from traveling across borders for ICC tournaments over the next three years. This policy reflects the ongoing political tensions that have historically complicated sporting relations between India and Pakistan.

The strained diplomatic ties have hindered bilateral tours since 2008, making participation in joint sporting events increasingly challenging. Despite this setback, the Pakistan women’s team has qualified for the ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025, securing their place by remaining unbeaten in the qualifiers held in Pakistan, winning all five matches.

Upcoming Matches for Pakistan’s Women’s Team

Pakistan’s women will kick off their World Cup campaign with a match against Bangladesh on October 2, 2023, followed by a high-stakes encounter against arch-rivals India on October 5, 2023. All of Pakistan’s matches will take place at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, Sri Lanka, due to the geopolitical tensions that limit their ability to host or participate in events in India.

The squad for the tournament includes notable players such as captain Fatima Sana, vice-captain Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, and other key players like Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, and Nashra Sandhu. The team has also designated non-traveling reserves, which include Gull Feroza, Najiha Alvi, and Tuba Hassan.

As the tournament approaches, the focus will be on the performances of the teams, particularly for Pakistan, which aims to make a significant impact despite the challenges posed by the current political landscape.