COLOMBO, Oct. 5 -- It's the fourth consecutive Sunday of a Pakistan-India cricket encounter - only this time, the scorching heat of Dubai has been replaced by Colombo's humid, rain-laden skies, and the players on the field are women.

Yet, beneath the surface, the gulf between the two women's teams remains glaring. Across the border, Indian cricketers enjoy lucrative opportunities like the Women's Premier League (WPL), where top players earn upwards of $400,000. In contrast, many Pakistani domestic players receive monthly retainers below the national minimum wage, exposing the stark disparity in resources and recognition.

As the two sides prepare to clash in the Women's Asia Cup, India enters the fixture buoyed by a win over co-hosts Sri...