New Delhi: Pakistan will not attend the opening ceremony of the ICC Women’s World Cup, set to take place in Guwahati on September 30, according to a Geo Super report. The grand event will feature Indian singer Shreya Ghoshal ahead of the tournament opener between co-hosts India and Sri Lanka.
Sources told Geo News that neither Pakistan captain Fatima Sana nor any team representative will travel to India for the ceremony. The decision is reportedly linked to a policy adopted by both nations during the buildup to the Champions Trophy, under which India and Pakistan will avoid crossing borders for ICC tournaments over the next three years.
Political tensions have kept bilateral cricket frozen since 2008, with India refusing to tour Pakistan earlier this year for the Champions Trophy. Consequently, Pakistan will play all its matches at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium, including the semifinals and final if they qualify. Their campaign begins against Bangladesh on October 2, with the high-voltage India clash scheduled for October 5.
Pakistan secured their World Cup berth by going unbeaten in the qualifiers they hosted earlier this year.
