The Colombo leg of the Women’s World Cup 2025 has been a constant struggle against the rain, and the final league game between Sri Lanka Women and Pakistan Women appears destined to follow suit. The R Premadasa Stadium, a venue that has unfortunately seen more rain covers than cricketing action this tournament, is hosting this farewell match.
With India’s decisive victory over New Zealand securing the semifinal lineup last night, this particular contest holds no bearing on the tournament standings. However, for both teams, national pride is very much at stake. Under Chamari Athapaththu’s leadership, Sri Lanka has managed one victory, displaying moments of strong competitiveness. Pakistan, captained by Fatima Sana, has also shown glimpses of promise against top teams like Australia and England but has struggled to convert these into wins.
Persistent showers have led to a significant delay in the toss, with the entire outfield remaining covered, leaving both squads waiting in frustration. For Pakistan, a complete washout would be a tough pill to swallow, cementing an unwanted record of finishing the tournament winless despite several encouraging individual and team performances. For Sri Lanka, even a shared point from a no-result match would elevate them above New Zealand in the final table, a small but meaningful consolation for a campaign heavily impacted by the weather.
Regarding team selections, Sri Lanka is expected to maintain the same starting eleven that secured their sole win. Pakistan, looking to experiment or offer opportunities, might introduce young leg-spinner Aroob Shah, who has been on the bench throughout the competition.
Despite the frustrating weather, both teams have utilized this World Cup as a crucial benchmark for their development against stronger international sides. Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Sadia Iqbal expressed the team’s commitment, stating, “Women’s cricket has grown a lot and there’s been great improvement. We also want to keep developing our game and play at the same level as the teams we see in these major tournaments.” Her comments reflect the shared aspiration of both nations for clearer skies and better opportunities in Colombo.
As dark clouds continue to loom over the R Premadasa Stadium, the forecast predicts more thunderstorms. This final fixture for the Colombo chapter of the World Cup could indeed conclude as it began for many matches here: a test of patience, rather than a display of cricketing prowess.