Fatima Sana, the newly appointed captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team, is optimistic about her side’s potential ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024. Her belief is bolstered by the team’s recent performances.
Pakistan scored a record-breaking total of 181, their highest, resulting in a T20I victory over 2023 World Cup finalists South Africa. Defending that total by 13 runs in Multan, the Pakistan team showcased their growing strength, and Sana is confident they can now be considered serious challengers for the World Cup title.
She emphasised the importance of Pakistan’s shift towards a more aggressive style of play, “Recently, we’ve started playing with more attacking intent, and some young players have shown exciting potential. The game has evolved a lot since I made my debut in 2019. Scores are much higher now, batters play with more freedom, and as a team, we’re adapting to stay competitive.”
Sana herself has been in stellar form, scoring 101 runs at an impressive strike rate of 157.81 during the 3-match T20I series against South Africa. The skipper sees her role as crucial in backing up the strong work of Pakistan’s top-order batters, who have been pivotal in setting competitive totals.
Gull Feroza has indeed been one of the brightest stars for Pakistan, scoring 149 runs across four innings in the T20 Asia Cup in July 2024. Muneeba Ali, Pakistan’s most consistent batter over the last two years, has amassed 761 runs, including Pakistan’s first-ever century in women’s T20Is. Their performances, coupled with contributions from other experienced players, have bolstered Pakistan’s batting line-up.
The Pakistani skipper said, “This year, Gull Feroza has been in good form, with some strong innings in the Asia Cup. Muneeba Ali, at the top of the order, also performed well in the recent series against South Africa. Both are in good form and bring valuable experience. We’ve encouraged them to aim for a strike rate of over 100, a key metric that helps us post higher totals and compete with the best.”
Backing up this potent top-order is Pakistan’s experienced middle order. Players like Nida Dar, Sidra Amin, and Aliya Riaz bring valuable stability and depth to the team, and Sana is confident in their ability to deliver under pressure.
“In the middle order, we have experienced players like Nida Dar, Sidra Amin, and Aliya Riaz. I, too, have been working hard to bring positive energy to the team through my batting.”
Pakistan’s bowling attack, particularly their spin department, has also been a major asset. Sana highlighted the contributions of Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu, two of the top spinners in the ICC rankings, as well as rising stars like Syeda Arooba Shah and Tuba Hassan, whose performances have added depth to Pakistan’s bowling options.
“Sadia Iqbal has been phenomenal in the last year. She’s currently ranked No.3 in the ICC T20 rankings, and Nashra Sandhu is also in the top 10.”
“Nida Dar is the leading wicket-taker in T20s, and we have two talented leg spinners, Syeda Arooba Shah, who captained Pakistan U19 at the T20 World Cup, and Tuba Hassan, who has been a key player since her debut.”
In the fast-bowling department, the return of Diana Baig adds significant experience to Pakistan’s pace attack. Sana herself, along with the left-arm seamer Tasmia Rubab, provides further variety, making Pakistan’s bowling unit well-rounded.
“In the fast-bowling department, Diana Baig’s experience will be a great asset. I’ll do my best, as always, to contribute with both bat and ball, and we also have Tasmia Rubab, a left-arm seamer, which gives us good variety.”
As for their outlook in the World Cup, Pakistan faces tough competition in what is dubbed the “group of death,” which includes reigning champions Australia, alongside India, New Zealand, and Asia champions Sri Lanka. However, Sana remains optimistic, driven by recent victories over top teams.
“We aim to win as many as possible and see where that takes us. We know we have a tough group, including reigning champions Australia, but we’ve beaten teams like India and New Zealand recently, and playing against top sides boosts our confidence.”
The team also draws motivation from the unwavering support of their fans, especially after the strong turnout in Multan during the South Africa series, she stated, “We know we’ll have strong support from back home during this World Cup. We had great crowds and public interest during the South Africa series in Multan, and we know the nation is behind us.”
Fatima Sana, the ICC Emerging Cricketer of the Year 2021, has grown into a key figure for Pakistan, with over five years of international experience. She has played 43 T20Is, taking 31 wickets with the best of 3 for 18 against New Zealand’s White Ferns. With the bat, she has scored 316 runs, with a notable recent performance of 37 off 23 against South Africa. Sana now shoulders the responsibility of leading Pakistan in the World Cup, aiming to continue her strong form.
The T20 World Cup, originally scheduled to be held in Bangladesh, was relocated to the UAE due to ongoing political and social unrest in Bangladesh. The tournament will take place on the same dates, with Pakistan drawn into Group A. They will face off against India, New Zealand, Australia, and Sri Lanka in what promises to be a fiercely competitive league stage.
Pakistan’s squad for the 2024 T20 World Cup:
Fatima Sana (C), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (WK), Nashra Sandhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab, Tuba Hassan
With this blend of youth, experience, and recent success, Pakistan will be looking to make a significant impact in the 2024 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
(Quotes sourced from ICC captain’s column)