The Lahore skies had other plans on Friday as rain and rumbling clouds pushed the Pakistan vs Scotland ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier clash into an anxious, unwanted delay.
What was meant to be a crisp 10:00 AM IST start at the historic Lahore City Cricket Association Ground turned into a waiting game, with both teams stuck indoors while the grounds crew kept their eyes glued to the radar and covers firmly on the pitch.
Wet Skies, Dry Patience: Toss Yet to Take Place
The toss, originally scheduled for half an hour before the start, never happened. Thunderstorms swept through the region early in the morning and left large patches of dampness across the outfield. With puddles forming and the pitch under wraps, umpires and match officials had no choice but to wait it out.
The frustration was visible—players padded up and raring to go, coaches pacing in dugouts, and fans stuck in limbo. In a tournament where every match can determine the fate of a nation’s qualification hopes, time lost to weather feels like opportunity slipping away.
Even the broadcasters didn’t have much to report beyond close-ups of water droplets clinging to the boundary rope.
Momentum on Both Sides After Confident Starts
Before the skies interrupted, both teams arrived with early wins tucked under their belts—and a bit of momentum.
Pakistan’s opener against Ireland showcased a disciplined bowling performance. After setting a target of 217, they bundled out Ireland for 179 in just 44 overs. Captain Fatima Sana led from the front, balancing leadership and bowling duties with calm precision.
It was a morale boost after a patchy 2024, where Pakistan struggled with consistency. That win felt like a corner turned—or at least a step toward one.
Scotland, meanwhile, pulled off what some would call a minor upset against the West Indies. Chasing 245, the Windies fell short by 11 runs despite a heroic, unbeaten 114 from Hayley Matthews and a four-wicket haul to match. But the Scots held their nerve. Kathryn Bryce marshalled her side with quiet grit, and her team rewarded her faith.
Toss Delay: What It Means for the Teams
This delay hurts both sides, but in different ways.
For Pakistan, who were eyeing early qualification with a second straight win, momentum stalls. There’s also the tactical aspect—overcast conditions might’ve favoured their seamers, especially with an early start.
Scotland, still riding high from their surprise win, might’ve looked forward to exploiting the fragile confidence of a historically unpredictable Pakistani batting order. Now, they too must regroup.
One-liner? It’s anybody’s guess how much cricket we’ll actually get today.
What Happens if Rain Persists?
Tournament rules offer a framework for shortened matches or rescheduling in some cases, but reserve days are rarely used for group stage games in qualifiers like these.
If the match is eventually washed out, both teams will share points.
Here’s what the current points table looks like heading into the clash:
| Team | Played | Won | Lost | Points | Net Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pakistan | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.86 |
| Scotland | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | +0.44 |
| West Indies | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.44 |
| Ireland | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | -0.86 |
With both Pakistan and Scotland having already picked up wins, today’s clash could’ve tipped the scales toward semi-final certainty. Instead, we’re staring at grey skies and a grounds crew with squeegees.
Who’s Hot, Who to Watch (If We Get Play)
There’s plenty to look forward to—if the weather gods cooperate.
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Fatima Sana (Pakistan): With bat and ball, she’s growing into a leader. Her calm captaincy against Ireland gave Pakistan a new look.
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Kathryn Bryce (Scotland): The all-rounder is key. With experience in English domestic cricket, she brings calm under pressure.
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Nida Dar (Pakistan): Quiet with the bat in the opener but always a threat with her off-spin.
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Abtaha Maqsood (Scotland): A leg-spinner who could thrive if the pitch offers turn under wet conditions.
Both teams are carrying form and belief. Let’s just hope they get to show it on the field.
Broadcast and Streaming: How to Catch the Action
For fans trying to watch the match from India:
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Streaming: Available exclusively on FanCode (App and Website)
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TV Telecast: Not available on traditional Indian sports channels
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Match Start: Pending weather clearance
Given the conditions, delays, and possibility of overs being reduced, staying tuned to live updates is your best bet to catch any surprises.
Bigger Picture: Women’s Cricket Deserves Better
Delays like today aren’t new. But they sting a bit more when it comes to women’s cricket. Smaller venues, lesser coverage, no reserve days, and minimal contingency planning all mean that these players—who’ve trained for years—can see progress paused by the kind of rain delays that men’s matches often get more resources to work around.
You can’t control the weather. But the planning? That’s a whole other story.
