Dhaka, Oct. 2 -- The Women's World Cup gets a compelling start in Colombo on Thursday for Bangladesh as they take on Pakistan, a game that pits two close friends against each other in very different colors.

Nigar Sultana Joty, Bangladesh's captain, and Pakistan skipper Fatima Sana know each other well. They first shared a dressing room at the 2023 FairBreak Invitational and have stayed close since, trading tips and plenty of laughs.

But both admit there's no room for friendship once the first ball is bowled.

"When I get over the line, I don't know who Fatima Sana is," Nigar said to ICC with a smile. "She's my opponent. But after the game, of course, we're friends again."

Fatima, just 22 when she was handed the captaincy, says the feel...