No political questions allowed at pre-match pressers
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has enforced strict media guidelines to prevent political controversy ahead of the highly anticipated Pakistan-India Women’s World Cup match, set to take place on Sunday. During Pakistan captain Fatima Sana’s pre-match press conference, several reporters attempted to raise questions regarding the current political tensions between the two countries.
However, ICC media manager Sepoa Kazi swiftly intervened, making it clear that no political questions would be permitted. This included questions about handshakes between players, a topic that previously sparked global attention during the Asia Cup men’s tournament, where Indian players reportedly avoided shaking hands with their Pakistani counterparts, drawing protests from the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).
To maintain a focus on cricket, journalists were directed to ask only match-related queries. This move is part of a broader ICC strategy to keep the tournament free of political distractions and focused on sportsmanship and performance.
Fatima Sana says team ready to bounce back
After the ICC’s clarification, Fatima Sana shared insights into her team’s preparations and mindset ahead of the high-stakes encounter. She confirmed that the team had trained hard and was fully focused on the match. The final playing XI had yet to be decided, but all players were geared up.
“We are not out of the tournament,” Fatima said confidently, following their earlier defeat to Bangladesh. “The team is determined to bounce back strong. We’re focused and motivated.”
When asked about relations between the players of both sides, Fatima noted that while interactions were friendly in the past, her current focus was entirely on performance and team unity.
Leading the national side at a young age, Fatima called it an honour and thanked the senior players for their support, saying the team was united and ready for the big match.
