Pakistan Women's Cricket Squad Analysis for T20 World Cup 2018

The latest bilateral series between Pakistan and Australia of 3 One Day Internationals and T20s held in Malaysia, ended up with Australia women clean sweeping Pakistan women in both the formats. Pakistan Women found it difficult to put up a good show with both, the bat and the ball. Pakistan was led by Javeria Khan, when Bismah Maroof was recovering from a sinus injury, but had her presence in the squad.

Next comes the biggest tournament of the T20 format, where both the teams will again have a face off in the second match of the opening day on 9th November. In early October, Pakistan Cricket Board announced the squad for T20 world cup without naming the captain and without Bismah Maroof. In October end, Maroof was called to lead Pakistan, until she stepped down from the captaincy and Javeria Khan was made to lead the team for the third consecutive tournament. However, Maroof would continue to play in the tournament.

The 16 member squad to play for the Pakistan in the upcoming world T20 announced:

Javeria Khan (captain), Aliya Riaz, Aiman Anwar, Anam Amin, Ayesha Zafar, Diana Baig, , Muneeba Ali Siddiqui, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Nida Dar, Bismah Maroof, Omaima Sohail, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk)

The spin attack Pakistan has with spinners like Sana Mir, Nida Dar, Anam Amin and Nashra Sandhu would prove to be an asset for the women in green on the West Indies’ pitches. Sana Mir is ranked No. 1 bowler in ODI rankings and had her presence in the top 20 rankings for the past 9 years. She is also the first Pakistan woman to take 100 wickets in ODIs. She has led Pakistan to numerous victories in the past, as a captain. Sana is the most important player for Pakistan and can take important wickets at crucial times.

Also Read: An Open Letter to Sana Mir by a Female Cricket fan

Also Read: 1st Match - Ireland Women vs Thailand Women - ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualfier

On the batting side, Nahida Khan, Muneeba Ali, Javeria Khan, Bismah Maroof, Omaima Sohail, Aliya Riaz and others can score important runs. Nahida Khan has been consistent with her bat and is amongst the in-form players from the batting side where she was one of the only two players from Pakistan’s side to score a half century in the last series. She made 66 runs in 114 balls in the 2nd ODI and also scored 43 runs in 32 balls in the 1st T20. The other player to score a half century is Aliya Riaz who made 51 runs in 69 balls in the 3rd ODI.

Bismah Maroof said that this is the best squad from Pakistan right now and they need to work on execution and fix their past mistakes.

Pakistan is in Group B with India, Australia, New Zealand and Ireland. Pakistan women have never won a T20 match against Australia and New Zealand. It would be entertaining to see how Pakistan women would really fight their rivals this T20 season starting from 9th November.

Also Read : Group B Analysis – Women’s T20 World Cup 2018

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Fixtures for the T20 Women’s World Cup:

Below mentioned timings are as per Indian Standard Time

Nov 9: India Women vs. New Zealand Women (Guyana) 11 AM

Nov 9: Pakistan Women vs. Australia Women (Guyana) 4 PM

Nov 9: West Indies Women vs. Qualifier 1 (Guyana) 8 PM

Nov 10: England Women vs. Sri Lanka Women (ST Lucia) 4 PM

Nov 11: Australia Women vs. Qualifier 2 (Guyana) 4 PM

Nov 11; India Women vs. Pakistan Women (Guyana) 11 AM

Nov 12; England Women vs. Qualifier 1 (ST Lucia) 4 PM

Nov 12: Sri Lanka Women Vs. South Africa Women (ST Lucia) 8 PM