Pakistan, June 17 -- A five per cent match-fee fine for slow over-rate is, by itself, a small punishment. In the case of Pakistan's women's cricket team, however, the sanction after the match against India should not be dismissed as a technicality.

It would be unfair to turn this into an indictment of women cricketers alone. They operate inside a system that still treats women's sport as an obligation to be maintained rather than a pathway to be built. Against India, who made 170 for six before bowling Pakistan out for 106 in 17 overs, the familiar gaps were visible again: shambolic fielding, batting that lacked depth, and a general fitness and game-awareness deficit. Pakistan is now set to face South Africa, and the question is not whet...