Jemimah Rodrigues shares hug with Pakistan's Fatima Sana amid frosty relations

Senior India batter Jemimah Rodrigues and Pakistan’s talismanic all-rounder Fatima Sana were seen sharing a warm hug after a match between their franchises in ‘The Hundred’ competition on Thursday. A video of the moment, coming in the context of ever-so-frosty political relations between the two countries, has gone viral on social media, dividing opinions of cricket followers as always.

There has been an unsaid boycott placed on any friendly interactions between Indian and Pakistani players, mostly from the Indian side, since the devastating Pahalgam terror attack in 2025. While players from other sports have restored handshakes and a bit of pleasantries, cricket hasn’t moved on to the same extent. Rodrigues and Fatima’s connection would come as a breath of fresh air, for better or worse.

Watch it here:

There were some concerns that the India-Pakistan politics would spill over to The Hundred. After several Indian owners invested in the league, a few reports suggested that they might bring an IPL-like player shadow ban on Pakistani cricketers. But, ultimately, Sunrisers Leeds, owned by the Sun Group, signed Pakistani men’s spinner Abar Ahmed to allay those fears.

In this match, Rodrigues, representing Southern Brave, played a crucial unbeaten cameo of 28 off 18 balls, while Fatima endured a mixed outing with the ball for Birmingham Phoenix before remaining unbeaten on five in a losing cause as the latter team was defeated by 24 runs at the Rose Bowl.

The victory extended Brave’s perfect start to the season to four wins from four, while Phoenix remained rooted to the bottom of the table without a victory.

Batting first, Brave posted 140/3 after a strong opening stand of 68 from 48 balls between Lizelle Lee (43 off 28) and Maia Bouchier (45 off 31). Rodrigues then provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 28, helping the hosts add valuable late runs after Laura Wolvaardt’s subdued 11.

Fatima conceded 33 runs in her 15-ball spell, while Alice Capsey, Lauren Filer and Alana King picked up a wicket each.

Phoenix looked well-placed in the chase as Davina Perrin and Tammy Beaumont shared a 73-run opening partnership. Perrin top-scored with 52 off 43 balls, while Beaumont contributed 22, but the innings lost momentum after their dismissals.

Lauren Bell removed Alice Capsey before Sarah Glenn accounted for Perrin soon after her half-century. Captain Sophie Molineux then claimed two late wickets to finish with 2/24, while Bell returned figures of 1/16 as Phoenix were restricted to 116/5. Ellyse Perry remained unbeaten on 16, with Fatima Sana finishing on an unbeaten five.