Pakistan Women’s Captain Reflects on Defeat to India in T20 World Cup Opener

In their T20 World Cup 2026 opener, Pakistan Women faced a disappointing 64-run defeat against India. Captain Fatima Sana expressed her concerns over the team's batting and fielding, emphasizing the need for improvement in upcoming matches. India showcased a strong performance, with key contributions from Smriti Mandhana and Deepti Sharma leading to a comprehensive victory. Sana highlighted the importance of correcting mistakes, particularly in fielding, as dropped catches proved costly. As the tournament progresses, Pakistan aims to bounce back and enhance their performance.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 15, 2026, 01:54 IST

Pakistan Women’s Team Faces Setback Against India

Birmingham [UK], June 14: Following a 64-run loss to India in their opening match of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Edgbaston, Pakistan Women’s captain Fatima Sana expressed her disappointment over the team's batting and fielding performance.

India showcased a strong all-around display, recovering from an early batting slump. Smriti Mandhana led the charge with a solid 68 runs, supported by captain Harmanpreet Kaur's 36 and a brisk 34 from Richa Ghosh, helping India post a total of 170/6.

Despite a promising start with early wickets, Pakistan struggled to maintain momentum and were ultimately bowled out for just 106 in 17 overs. Deepti Sharma was instrumental in India's victory, claiming 5 wickets for just 10 runs, while the spinners collectively took nine wickets to secure a convincing win.

In her post-match comments, Sana acknowledged the need for improvement, particularly in batting, stating, “It’s really disappointing on the batting side. We need to step up in the next matches because we still have a long way to go in the World Cup.” She highlighted that while Pakistan had control during the first innings, they faltered in the final overs, allowing India to score extra runs.

Sana also pointed out the team's fielding errors, noting that dropped catches were particularly costly. She emphasized the importance of enhancing both bowling and fielding skills for future matches, as such mistakes can significantly impact the game's outcome.

Mandhana, who scored 68 runs off 44 balls, was notably dropped twice during her innings, first by Aliya Riaz at 27 and then by Saira Jabeen at 55.

“Catches win matches. Unfortunately, we dropped some. We need to improve our bowling and fielding in the next match, as errors in the field can cost us dearly,” Sana concluded.