A clear Colombo sunrise offered hope, yet Sunday’s India-Pakistan Women’s World Cup fixture still sits under a thick cloud of uncertainty. Ground staff at the R Premadasa Stadium spent the early hours taking covers on and off, mindful of the north-east monsoon that locals say “doesn’t mean anything” just because the morning stayed dry.
Saturday’s experience is a recent reminder. Australia and Sri Lanka walked out for their inspection on time, the sky looked playable, but within minutes steady rain forced the toss to be abandoned. Two-and-a-half hours later officials called the match off without a ball bowled. Tournament organisers fear a repeat.
Both sides arrive with contrasting form. India began their campaign in Guwahati, defending 258 to beat Sri Lanka by 59 runs in a match shortened to 47 overs. Pakistan, meanwhile, slipped to a seven-wicket defeat against Bangladesh at this same venue, their reply never recovering from early wickets.
Conditions could again dictate tactics. If play is possible but shortened, teams may lean towards power hitters and swing bowlers rather than long spells of spin. Even so, India’s think-tank has been discussing Pakistan’s trio of left-arm spinners – Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal and young Anosha Nasir – who combined for 19 tidy overs against Bangladesh. Captain Harmanpreet Kaur suggested after training that “rotation against slower bowlers will be key”, while batting coach Hrishikesh Kanitkar stressed strike-rate management rather than slogging.
Pakistan coach Mohtashim Rasheed kept expectations measured. “We need early breakthroughs and discipline in the middle overs; the rest will follow,” he said, pointing out the advantage of having already bowled on this surface. Bismah Maroof, his senior batter, called for calm if rain interrupts. “Stay switched on, wait for your moment,” she told team-mates during Saturday’s indoor session.
The playing conditions allow each group match to be reduced to a minimum of 20 overs per side before being declared a no-result. Reserve days apply only to the knock-out rounds, so group points carry extra weight. India sit joint-top after one game; Pakistan are yet to score.
Match officials will review conditions hourly from 12.30pm local, with the scheduled start at 3pm. Fans travelling to the ground – or tuning in from home – may need patience, umbrellas and a back-up plan, but for now the hope remains that cricket, not rain charts, will decide the biggest rivalry of the tournament.
