Fatima Sana, captain of Pakistan women’s cricket team, attracted attention following a bizarre spray incident that unfolded during the India-Pakistan Women’s World Cup 2025 clash on Sunday at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Sri Lanka.
As the Pakistani players temporarily halted the game due to a swarm of insects, captain Fatima Sana then waged a lone battle against the bugs and was seen spraying on the field. The video went viral on social media, with many users anticipating the bottle in her hand, while some suggested that it might be the deodorant or the perfume she had shared due to the smell in the stadium.
Although her pest-control efforts failed to keep them at bay, the antics had commentators in stitches, adding a humorous twist to the high-stakes encounter. The incident happened during the 28th over of India’s innings when Nashra Sandhu was seen swinging her towel to drive the flies away. A few Pakistani players then approached the on-field umpire to have a chat, causing a delay as the match official was then seen talking on the earphones.
Players are going off the field so pest control folks can spray the bugs away. My traumatised brain saw umpire calling people off and eyes went straight to the sky for signs of rain.
Good, the players were really getting bothered. Fumigation underway. Expect a 10-minute-ish… pic.twitter.com/WuoRTlJlSx
— Lavanya 🎙️🎥👩🏻💻 (@lav_narayanan) October 5, 2025
The commentators were initially unsure of the cause of the delay. However, one of the Pakistani substitute players ran into the field with a spray in hand. They suspected it was due to an injury, but Fatima quickly took the spray and used it liberally to get back at the insects. The site left the commentators in splits.
“Okay, I’m very curious. You have been in that dugout, what’s come out, Sana Mir?” asked one of the commentators.
“I have no idea,” replied the former Pakistan captain, before Fatima went wild with the spray.
“On that pest control note, we take a break,” said the former commentator.
Pakistani Captain Fatima Sana was seen spraying deodorant on the ground after she saw pakistani women in the stadium. pic.twitter.com/AzIUwy26uj
— garvi. (@kohlichronicles) October 5, 2025
Fatima Sana spraying the Pakistani players because flies are attracted to them.
Shit always attracts flies. 😂😂#INDvPAK pic.twitter.com/Qw8Nf65U6d
— Ministry Of Sarcasm (@M_OfSarcasm) October 5, 2025
Read more: Azad Kashmir row: Pakistan’s Sana Mir trigger Indian fans
Fatima Sana’s efforts had little impact as the insects continued to trouble the players. Six hours later, the players were sent off the field so ground staff could fumigate their pitch with pest-control spray. The stoppage lasted 15 minutes, but the match resumed without any loss of overs.
Fatima sana is spraying in the ground because of bad smell coming from the opposition. pic.twitter.com/GISs4vQlGl
— Assadᡣ𐭩🇵🇸 (@Ijussdontcare) October 5, 2025
The video of Pakistan captain Fatima Sana spraying what appeared to be a pest-control bottle on the field quickly went viral on social media, sparking a heated exchange between Indian and Pakistani cricket fans. While some users humorously suggested that the Pakistani players used deodorant spray due to an unpleasant smell on the field, others criticized the remarks as unsportsmanlike and disrespectful.