Persistent showers forced both teams to share a point each \u2014 marking the fifth washout in Colombo this tournament.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
\u201cI think the only thing that didn't go in our favour was the weather. I think ICC must arrange three good venues for the World Cup because we wait for four years to play in the World Cup,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on Pakistan\u2019s performance, she added, \u201cI think we were very good in the bowling and fielding side, but we are lacking in the batting department. We were good in a couple of games. We gave a close fight to Australia and England, but unfortunately, we were unable to cross the main line.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The 22-year-old captain also spoke about the learnings from her first global campaign in charge. \u201cI think as the youngest captain of the team, I have learned a lot of learnings from the World Cup. We didn't play much cricket in the recent past. We need to play much more cricket. We have the T20 World Cup coming up next year. We should be ready for that one.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Looking ahead, Fatima noted that Pakistan have two upcoming series and are waiting for the PCB\u2019s schedule. On handling the pressures of captaincy, she said, \u201cPressure was always there, but I always watched Kane Williamson. He lost the World Cup very closely, but still, he managed to keep a smile on his face. I am just trying to be calm. When you are captaining a losing side, you need to have that belief in your team. Hopefully, we will do well in our upcoming games.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
She also shared a lighter moment from the tournament. \u201cBefore the national anthems, a little girl told me, \u2018Please take my number and call me, I am your biggest fan.\u2019 I was laughing as, throughout the tournament, I was always standing by her side. I really enjoyed her company,\u201d Fatima recalled. \u201cI was a net bowler in the West Indies in 2017, and Hayley Matthews and Deandra Dottin praised my bowling a lot in the net sessions. That boosted my confidence. If you are a good human being, these things help you a lot.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Sri Lanka captain Chamari Athapaththu, meanwhile, chose to look ahead positively despite the string of weather-hit games. \u201cYeah, definitely. I try to control what I can control. As a team, the expectations are always high when we come to a World Cup. Unfortunately, we lost our first game against India and another against England. We made quite a few mistakes in the field, with the bat, and as a bowling unit. But we\u2019re focusing on what we can do better in the future,\u201d she said.<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chamari praised the balance on her side, adding, \u201cWe have some really talented young players, along with experienced senior players. The seniors always take the time to guide the youngsters, and as captain, I try to support all the girls. I always encourage them to play positive cricket\u2014that\u2019s my main focus.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Reflecting on their progress, the 35-year-old noted, \u201cWe\u2019ve played against South Africa, India, and New Zealand. Over the last 12 months, we\u2019ve beaten some of these teams, and we even beat England in England in T20s. On any given day, the team that plays their best cricket will win. We need to improve our batting, especially in the longer format. I feel we\u2019re very close to being among the top four teams, but we need to improve our cricket. The mistakes we made against India and England cost us those games.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
Chamari praised the balance on her side, adding, \u201cWe have some really talented young players, along with experienced senior players. The seniors always take the time to guide the youngsters, and as captain, I try to support all the girls. I always encourage them to play positive cricket\u2014that\u2019s my main focus.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n
The washed-out fixture brings to a close Colombo\u2019s wet and frustrating leg of the tournament. The remaining matches of the Women\u2019s World Cup will now move to India, where players and fans will be hoping for clear skies and uninterrupted cricket.<\/p>\r\n\r\n