'Not looking forward to a specific match' - Pakistan captain Fatima Sana downplays hype around Women's T20 World Cup 2026 clash vs India

Published - 24 May 2026, 22:01 IST | Updated - 24 May 2026, 22:19 IST

Fatima Sana, the Pakistan captain, said that her team will give equal importance to every game they play during the Women's T20 World Cup 2026. As is the trend in ICC events these days, India and Pakistan are placed in the same group in the upcoming marquee event, which will be held in England and Wales from June 12 to July 5.

While the fans are already waiting in anticipation to watch arch-rivals India and Pakistan collide at the grand stage, Sana asserted that each game is crucial for her team. However, she hopes to put on a strong show against the Women in Blue, who will be high on confidence after their maiden Women's ODI World Cup triumph last year.

"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 a training camp in Lahore (quotes from India Today).

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

Pakistan are also in good form this year. They recently whitewashed Zimbabwe at home in a three-match T20I series. They will head to Dublin later this month to play a tri-series with Ireland and the West Indies. Fatima was in brilliant form in the series. She scored the fastest half-century in Women's T20Is, getting to the milestone in just 15 balls. The 24-year-old bettered the previous record for the fastest fifty, which was jointly held by Richa Ghosh, Sophie Devine, and Phoebe Litchfield. She also bagged five wickets across the three T20Is.

After this assignment, Pakistan will kick-start their Women's T20 World Cup campaign. The Women in Green are placed in Group A, where Australia, Bangladesh, the Netherlands, and South Africa are present, apart from India.