The Pakistani women's cricket team has made up its mind not to visit for the opening ceremony and captain's photoshoot of the Women's ODI World Cup 2025 in Guwahati, India, on September 30. According to reports by Geo News, skipper Fatima Sana and the entire team will boycott it. This move comes after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had previously agreed with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) not to tour one another's nation for the next three years. The Hybrid Model and Diplomatic Tensions The issue traces its roots to the ICC Champions Trophy held this year. India had declined to go to Pakistan for fear of security, and this compelled the ICC to implement a hybrid model. It enabled India to host its matches at neutral grounds, with other teams playing in Pakistan. Also Read | Fatima Sana Draws Captaincy Inspiration from Dhoni for Women’s WC The PCB embraced the hybrid model, but on a condition. It demanded that whenever India hosted an ICC or ACC event, the same system would hold for Pakistan's attendance as well. The two boards finally settled for this formula. But political tensions between the two countries intensified after the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Kashmir, when 26 individuals, including tourists, were killed by Pakistan-based terrorists. India retaliated with "Operation Sindoor," launching airstrikes against militant camps in PoK and Pakistan. Diplomatic and sporting relations between the two countries became even more strained after the attack. While India severed ties with Pakistan on all fronts, cricket was one of the exceptions where contact did not cease. The two boards recently agreed to play each other in the Asia Cup 2025, which will take place in UAE. Nevertheless, Pakistan's decision to miss the World Cup 2025 opening ceremony is testimony to how tenuous the cricketing friendship between the neighbors is. Though the games will proceed, the boycott is unequivocally a mirror of the deeper political strains off the field.