The deadlock between Pakistan and India in sporting ties will extend to the ICC Women’s World Cup opening ceremony as well, with confirmation that Pakistan’s women’s team will officially skip the event.
The ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025 opening ceremony is scheduled at the Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium ahead of the tournament’s opening clash between co‑hosts India and Sri Lanka on September 30. The grand curtain‑raiser will feature a joint press conference with team captains, a trophy photoshoot, and traditional introductions.
However, Pakistan’s captain, Fatima Sana—along with the rest of the squad—will not be attending. The decision stems from the recently introduced “Fusion Formula,” which dictates that for the next three years Pakistan and India will not travel to each other’s soil for ICC events, not even for ceremonial photo‑shoots.
Pakistan is already scheduled to play all its Women’s World Cup matches at Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. The arrangement extends to the knockout rounds as well, meaning that should the Green Shirts qualify for the semifinal on October 29 or the final on November 2, those fixtures will also be hosted in Sri Lanka.
Fatima Sana’s team skipping the opening ceremony is not surprising. India’s Rohit Sharma was previously denied permission to attend a captains’ event for the 2025 Champions Trophy, which was ultimately scrapped due to logistical challenges.
Pakistan’s campaign will get underway against Bangladesh on October 2. The squad, which impressed during the qualifying tournament earlier this year, will carry hopes of breaking new ground on the global stage as they look to join the big-guns of women’s cricket.