Pakistan captain downplays hype around Women's T20 World Cup clash vs India

Fatima Sana said she does not want to focus solely on the clash against Harmanpreet Kaur’s India in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The arch-rivals are placed in Group A and are scheduled to face each other on Sunday, June 14, at Edgbaston Cricket Ground in Birmingham.

India have dominated Pakistan in Women’s T20Is, winning 13 of the 16 matches played between the two sides since 2009. In Women’s T20 World Cups, India hold a 6-2 advantage over their neighbours.

Speaking on the sidelines of a training camp in Lahore, Fatima said Pakistan would treat every game in the tournament as equally important rather than focusing on just one contest.

"Obviously, we are well-prepared, and the World Cup is such an event in which every match is important; also, T20 cricket is such that anything can be changed rapidly. So, we are not looking forward to a specific match," Fatima said during a media interaction on the sidelines of the training camp.

"As everybody knows, India and Pakistan have a good match, so God willing, we will try to play well,” Fatima added.

PAKISTAN PREPARING HARD FOR WORLD CUP

Pakistan have been in excellent form, recently sweeping Zimbabwe 3-0 at home. Fatima Sana enjoyed a memorable series, smashing the fastest fifty in Women’s T20Is off just 15 balls, surpassing the jointly held record of Sophie Devine, Phoebe Litchfield and Richa Ghosh.

Fatima is also an effective pace bowler capable of swinging the ball both ways. Last year, she replaced Nida Dar as Pakistan captain and led the side in the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Following the series win against Zimbabwe, Pakistan will next compete against Ireland and West Indies in a tri-series scheduled from May 28 to June 4 in Dublin.

Apart from India, Pakistan will also face Laura Wolvaardt's South Africa, Sophie Molineux's Australia, Nigar Sultana Joty's Bangladesh and Babette de Leede's Netherlands in the group stage of the tournament.

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