Fatima Sana Urges Team to Prioritize Gameplay Before High-Stakes IND vs PAK World Cup Showdown

India and Pakistan currently only face off during continental or global tournaments. Historically, these encounters have included touching displays of sportsmanship, such as when the Indian team visited then-captain Bismah Maroof and her newborn after their 2022 World Cup match, or when Shreyanka Patil gifted artwork to Fatima Sana Khan, who was grieving the loss of her father during the T20 World Cup in the UAE last year.

However, recent incidents, including the Pahalgam attacks and subsequent tensions during the Asia Cup, have hindered any overt acts of friendship between the two teams.

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Ahead of the match, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana emphasized, “Our main goal is to play, and when we come here, our focus is only on the game.” She noted the importance of maintaining good relations with all teams, cherishing moments like the interaction with Bismah’s daughter, but stressed the need to stay focused on their primary objectives.

India’s bowling coach Avishkar Salvi also stressed the importance of maintaining a focus on cricket. “For us, the focus is cricket, so we want our girls to bring their A-game. It’s a long campaign spanning over 30 days, and we’re clear about our goals both as a group and individually. The aim is to execute these calmly.”

Published on Oct 4, 2025