Amidst all this, 22 players united by sport but separated by a border are expected to take the field while maintaining the spirit of the sport. Sana, when asked about the situation in 2022 and now, said their primary job is to play cricket and win. While acknowledging that they are aware of what is happening around them and outside, Sana said that they want to try and focus on the game. “We try to keep healthy relationships with every team. Whatever comes in the spirit of the game, we try to maintain that. What happened before, like with Bismah’s daughter, when everyone mingled and enjoyed together — as players, we all like such moments. But the main thing is to stay focused on what we have come here for,” she said.
Indian bowling coach Aavishkar Salvi sang from the same hymn sheet as well. “When you enter into a big tournament like a World Cup, the area of focus is only cricket. It’s good to have the players in a good space. As you saw in the first game, after that first win, obviously, the team is on a momentum, on a roll, and they have been preparing well. So, everybody is in a good space where they are working in an ecosystem where they are trying to get their A game on the day, wherever it is,” he said.
However, they both would be very much aware that it is not going to be easy doing that at all. The entire world will have their eye on a women’s game like never before — the travelling press pack seems like an indication of it as well — and the 22 women will carry the weight of not just performing well but also conducting themselves in such a way that they stand by their respective countries.
It was half past five on Saturday evening in Colombo. The city and the stadium looked like it was past midnight. So it was no surprise that the Sri Lanka versus Australia had been officially called off. Could this be an ominous sign for Sunday? Or will the two teams get a chance to come out and give their best with cricket taking centrestage for once, again?