The Pakistan National Women’s Twenty20 (T20) Tournament kicks off on the 15th of January 2024, with a face-off between Quetta and Karachi. Live action from Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi commences at 11:30 AM Indian Standard Time (IST).
Squads:
Quetta – Saima Malik (C), Anum Amin, Ayesha Asim, Dua Majid, Faiza, Fareeha Mehmood, Humaira Ghulam, Jannat Rashid, Khadija Chishti, Khair-u-Nisa, Khizra Liaqat, Lubaba Sarwar, Nida, Subhana Tariq, Tuba Hassan, Zamar Shafee
Karachi – Fatima Sana (C), Aimen Anwar, Aroob Shah, Esha Rahupoto, Hurraina Sajjad, Javeria Khan, Laiba Fatima, Maham Manzoor, Maham Tariq, Masooma Jaffri, Muneeba Ali, Najiha Alvi, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Yusra Amir, Zunaira Shah
Players to watch out:
Khadija Chishti
The 28-year-old batter, in the 2022/23 T20 competition, managed 91 runs from 4 outings, striking at 90.10, and registered the highest of 54. Khadija has put up several notable performances across various competitions, and it’ll be watched if she can display consistency, making the most of her experience.
Tuba Hassan
The 23-year-old leg-spinner picked up just a couple of wickets in the ’22/23 T20 Women’s Cricket Tournament; however, she has grown in her role lately, impressing in exhibition games and A series, with a collective of 8 wickets from 5 games. In T20 Internationals, (T20Is) she has 17 wickets from 19 outings and will be relied upon for the goods.
Aroob Shah
The 20-year-old all-rounder was a standout in the ’22/23 T20 competition, scalping 9 wickets from 4 outings, while also chipping in with the bat, scoring 50 runs at a strike rate of 156.25. Aroob’s transition to international cricket was a rocky one, and it’ll be worth tracking her progress, especially with the bat.
Fatima Sana
The 22-year-old all-rounder in T20Is, from 28 bowling innings, has taken 24 wickets and added 146 runs to the tally from 16 outings, with respective bests being 3/18 and 35*. Fatima has been in exceptional form lately, so much so that she featured in New Zealand’s domestic T20 competition. It’ll be watched how she leads her side.
Pitch:
The center wicket at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium offers favorable conditions for bowlers, particularly spinners, leading to a modest average score. Batters face challenges on this wicket but can look to convert their starts once they find their rhythm.
Weather:
It’ll be a bright sunny day at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium with the temperature expected to hover around 18°C, light winds, and a humidity level of 54%. With a clear forecast, we are in for a complete game of cricket.
Fantasy playing XI:
Muneeba Ali, Javeria Khan, Khadija Chishti, Dua Majid, Omaima Sohail, Fatima Sana, Aroob Shah, Khizra Liaqat, Saima Malik, Aimen Anwar, Tuba Hassan
Match details:
Date – January 15, 2024
Time – 11:30 AM IST
Venue – Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi
Broadcast – The game will be live-streamed on the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCBs) YouTube channel.
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