Pakistan opener Sidra Nawaz admitted that her team’s batting continued to be their biggest concern after a 107-run loss to Australia in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2025, marking their third straight defeat in the tournament.
Speaking after the match, Sidra said the team had expected better from their batting unit after strong performances in the lead-up to the World Cup. “We were doing well previously, especially during the qualifiers and even in the preparatory series against South Africa where our batting looked good. Unfortunately, in this World Cup, our batting momentum hasn’t been built yet.”
Pakistan failed to chase a target of 230, and Sidra explained that the decision to bowl first was a tactical one, not a result of uncertainty.
“It wasn’t about preferring to chase or bat first. We chose to bowl because we’ve done well bowling first in previous matches. I think restricting the No. 1 team in the world to 200 was commendable. Had our batting clicked today, the result could have been very different.”
Sidra acknowledged that the conditions under lights in Colombo offered some assistance to bowlers but praised her team’s overall bowling effort.
“Under lights, the ball always swings, but compared to the earlier matches, the swing wasn’t too extreme today. Our bowlers maintained good control and length, and our spinners did very well in the first innings, they didn’t allow many runs, which is a positive sign. Bowling-wise, we executed our plans well.”
When asked about team combination and bowling depth, Sidra explained that Pakistan had a balanced lineup. “We always play with a proper combination. We had our five main bowlers, and Imaan Fatima can also bowl if needed. Since we got early wickets, there wasn’t a need to go for a sixth option.”
Sidra also spoke about how the team mood shifted after letting Australia’s innings slip away. “We had the momentum, but Beth Mooney — who’s their top batter — played an outstanding innings without giving a chance. Even their tailenders supported her well. Still, overall, our bowlers did a very good job today.”
Reflecting on Pakistan’s overall campaign, Sidra didn’t hide her disappointment with the batting but maintained belief in the squad’s potential.
“We’re all very disappointed with the batting performances in these three matches, but we’re trying to stay positive. We know we can beat any team in this World Cup — anything can happen in cricket. The focus is to build partnerships so that we can sort out the batting problems.”
Despite a disappointing outing, Sidra remained optimistic about Pakistan’s chances to bounce back. “We know our bowling unit is performing well; now it’s about our batters stepping up. Once that happens, things will turn around for us.”
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