Shafali Verma Fatima Sana send off. Image Credits: X
India vs Pakistan cricket matches are never short on drama. With the current geopolitical climate between the two countries, one can only expect the drama to be further amplified by the intense emotions surrounding the rivalry.
As one can expect, the India vs Pakistan match from the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup in Dubai certainly lived up to its hype. Apart from the two rival captains ignoring each other at the toss, Indian youngster Shafali Verma and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana shared a fiery moment on the field to add another layer to the grueling battle.
Fatima Sana takes Muneeba Ali’s revenge against Shafali Verma
Shafali Verma started off India’s small chase of 56 runs with a huge six off Pakistan spinner Sadia Iqbal. Getting the ‘Women in Blue’ off to a flier in match number nine of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup, the cricketer was eventually dismissed by Pakistan captain Fatima Sana in the following over.
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Much to everyone’s surprise, Sana also fired a brutal send-off to the departing Shafali by pointing towards the Indian dressing room.
The moment itself was Fatima Sana’s retort to the treatment her teammate Muneeba Ali had received from Shafali Verma earlier in the game.
When Shafali Verma mocked Muneeba Ali
Earlier during the Pakistan innings, opening batters Shawaal Zulfiqar and Muneeba Ali motored their side to 27-0 in just four overs.
However, India’s part-time spinner Shafali Verma derailed Pakistan’s momentum by knocking over a well-set Muneeba with some sharp turn.
As Muneeba Ali was making her way back to the sheds, she received a fiery end-off from Shafali.
In a classic ‘what comes around, goes around’ moment for the Indian opener, she found herself on the receiving end of a similar send-off roughly an hour later in the game.
Shafali Verma’s India eventually had the last laugh…
Amidst the heated exchanges and fiery send-offs, the India Women’s team eventually had the last laugh as they comfortably chased down Pakistan’s modest target to seal a convincing victory.
In pursuit of 57 runs, Indian captain Harmanpreet Kaur bludgeoned a four and a six off Nashra Sandhu to notch up the winning runs in just 8.4 overs with seven wickets to spare.
Shree Charani bagged the ‘Player of the Match’ award for picking up three key wickets at an expense of just seven runs. Shafali Verma herself chipped in with the wicket of Muneeba Ali to claim tight figures of 1-10, before cracking a swift six-ball 12 in the run chase.
The outcome also marked India’s 15th win over Pakistan in Women’s T20I cricket in just 18 matches. Moreover, the win was also India’s fifth over their arch-rivals in succession, with Pakistan yet to defeat the ‘Women in Blue’ in the format since October 2022.
India qualify for the semifinal, Pakistan to face Hong Kong
Team India is set to finish the Group A standings at the top of the points table, having secured three comprehensive wins in three games at a formidable NRR of 5.471. They have now reached the semifinal of the tournament, where they will face the runners-up of Group B.
The Pakistan team, on the other hand, will now have to win against Hong Kong in their final Group A match of the 2026 Women’s Asia Cup. Fatima Sana and co. will take on Hong Kong on September 7 at the same venue.
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