Being selected for the 2022 ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup based on their ranking after the qualification tournament was called off due to the detection of Omicron, the women’s team from Pakistan would be playing its 5th World Cup. Though they don’t have a good record from the previous four editions they played, with just 2 wins that came in 2009, the team for the 2022 edition of the tournament looks a strong one and hope to have a good tournament which they commence on March 6 against their arch-rivals India.
The 18 members squad led by Bismah Maroof consists of 8 players who will be making their first ODI World Cup appearance. They are-:
1. Aiman Anwer:
Making her ODI debut in February 2017, bowler Aiman Anwer has played 7 matches in the format taking 4 wickets with the best figure of 1/13. Though Anwer hasn’t played ODI for the national side since 2019 but was a part of Pakistan’s T20I squad against South Africa last year and has also been a part of the ‘A’ team from the country.
2. Aliya Riaz:
Experienced all-rounder Aliya Riaz has been a consistent performer for Pakistan. With 791 runs and 7 wickets in 38 ODIs, Riaz has 4 half-centuries and has been unbeaten in her last 3 ODI innings (44*, 61*, 48*). Riaz was the leading wicket-taker for her national side in the 2018 Twenty20 World Cup.
3. Anam Amin:
With the best ODI spell of 5/35, Anam Amin has appeared in 29 ODIs for Pakistan and has a total of 44 wickets. She recorded her best spell in November last year during the 1st ODI of the West Indies tour to the country which was further followed by 2 wickets each in the next 2 matches of the series while she took a 3-wicket haul in the last match she played during the World Cup qualifiers.
4. Fatima Sana:
The first Pakistani woman to win an ICC award, 20 years old Fatima Sana is already a top player from the country. The winner of the ICC Women’s Emerging Cricketer of the year award for 2021, Sana made her ODI debut in 2019 and recorded her first ODI 5-wicket haul against West Indies last year. In 15 matches of the format till now, pacer Fatima Sana has 21 wickets at 25.57 and has also contributed a total of 133 runs with the bat.
5. Muneeba Ali:
Wicket-keeper batter Muneeba Ali has impressed many with her wicket-keeping skills. Ali has 15 catches and 2 Stumpings in her 19 ODIs for Pakistan since her debut in March 2018. As an opener, the 24 years old has contributed 387 runs at 20.36 with 58 against West Indies last year, being her highest score in international cricket.
6. Omaima Sohail:
All-rounder Omaima Sohail made her ODI debut in October 2018 and has played 22 ODIs aggregating 449 runs at 22.45 and 8 wickets at 30.12. Her highest score of international crickets came against West Indies last year when she struck 62 in the 3rd ODI which was followed by 61 in the next one.
7. Najiha Alvi (Traveling Reserve):
Chosen as a traveling reserve alongside Iram Javed and Tuba Hassan, the 19 years old is yet to make her international debut. Playing the role of a wicket-keeper batter, Alvi has played for the Emerging Players team as well as the ‘A’ team from the country.
8. Tuba Hassan (Traveling Reserve):
All-rounder Tuba Hassan is also a part of Pakistan’s World Cup squad as a traveling reserve. Like Alvi, she is yet to make her international debut and has represented the Emerging Players team from the country.
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