Sana Mir, the former captain of Pakistan Women’s cricket team has always been a crucial part of her team as she is the second-highest wicket-taker in WT20Is and also the first Pakistani women cricketer to rank number 1 in ICC ODI bowler ranking.
The 34-year-old has featured in every edition of the T20 World Cup, including the previous one in 2018 and has played 106 T20’s so far for Pakistan.
On Monday, Pakistan selectors surprised everyone as they announced the 15-member squad for the upcoming T20 Women’s World Cup in which Mir was excluded. The off-break bowler hasn’t been in her best form lately, which affected her selection in the squad. But her experience shows everything, no one can question her capability just by the last few matches. Her performance has not been at her best as she took only 1 wicket in her last 4 T20’s. Another questionable act which she did was when she took a break from cricket last year in November and missed a series against England.
According to regular captain Bismah Maroof and the selection committee, the team was selected according to recent performances in the T20 format, and in place of Mir they had come up with the right balance of youth and experience which will complement each other in the mega event.
After the squad announcement, current captain Maroof quoted, “I wanted to have her in the squad over which I, along with the selection committee, had deep deliberations. We had to decide between her and the emerging players who had been impressing on all the stages.”
“I respect and support the decision of the major group and hope she will continue to serve Pakistan women’s cricket in future with the same passion and energy.”
“The team has been selected keeping in mind the current form and performances along with the conditions in Australia and, at the same moment, we have come up with the right balance of youth and experience which will complement each other in the mega event,” said current chief selector Urooj Mumtaz.
Pakistan will definitely feel her absence as she has always been their go-to wicket-taker. The impact she makes in the game, and the amount of pressure she can handle is phenomenal. Pakistani bowling is toothless without her! During her captaincy, she took a lot of responsibilities on her shoulders, completed her 100 wickets in ODI’s and led her team to two Gold medals in Asian Games 2010 and 2014. Mir has struggled many times but she has often stepped up to deliver for her team. Her recent form should not have been a reason for her exclusion; her presence gives her team an edge over the others which could script history in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
Here’s @TheRealPCB Squad for @T20WorldCup next month. pic.twitter.com/DtUBsNCgk6
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 20, 2020
Mir faced many obstacles from the very start of her career when she proved in her country that women can also play cricket. In an interview with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB):
“The journey started by proving at every street, where I played cricket, that girls could play this sport. We didn’t have any role models, girls taking part in cricket was not that common,” she was quoted as saying.
“From street cricket to playing on the grounds and moving to stadia donning the Pakistan kit were moments of immense pride.”
Urooj Mumtaz congratulated her former colleague, calling her an inspiration for women.
“Sana has been a great role model for our cricket, in fact, world cricket, her hard work, dedication, and humility is absolutely admirable,” said Mumtaz.
“It was a tough decision to leave out Sana Mir. I wanted to have her in the squad over which I, along with the selection committee, had deep deliberations. We had to decide between her and the emerging players who had been impressing on all the stages” – @maroof_bismah #SanaMir pic.twitter.com/tiR1BrQF6V
— Female Cricket (@imfemalecricket) January 20, 2020
Her consistency, variations, and accuracy are the backbone of her results, she is been consistently performing from the last 14 years for her team. Mir is that sort of a character who has maintained her reputation to finish things off in style, she is down to earth but holds a mirror to show it to the world-class batters.
Surprised at the axing of Sana Mir!!
A legend like her doesn’t deserve to be treated like that!
She has served 🇵🇰 cricket for so many years. you can’t treat such a cricketer so shabbily! 👎🏻
Sana & Nahida vast experience would have helped the team in the Worldcup! https://t.co/s9vwFouF99— Syeda Nain Abidi (@SyedaNain18) January 21, 2020
Absolutely confused to understand how Sana Mir being dropped from the squad. Best player in the team and the one who kept 🇵🇰 flag
high. Why we kept on disrespecting our legends. Such a shame https://t.co/Dm9xNfOr5D— Atiq-uz-Zaman (@Atiq160Test) January 21, 2020