With their ICC Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 campaign hanging by a thread, Pakistan are preparing to face New Zealand, led by Sophie Devine, in Colombo on October 18 from 3 PM IST.
After three defeats and a washout in their opening four fixtures, Fatima Sana’s side sits at the bottom of the table with just one point, staring at near elimination from the 13th edition of the tournament, jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka. Yet, amidst the rough patch, top-order batter Omaima Sohail struck a tone of quiet optimism in her pre-match press conference, suggesting that Pakistan are “getting closer and closer to a win,” and remain determined to fight back.
The 28-year-old batter acknowledged the frustration of their washed-out contest against England on October 15, where rain denied Pakistan their first real opportunity to turn the momentum. “That was disappointing for us, but now we’re looking forward to our next game with New Zealand,” she said. “We will do our best and try to win that game.”
As conditions continue to favour bowlers in Colombo, Sohail expressed belief that Pakistan’s spin attack could play a decisive role. “The pitches here are supporting the bowlers, especially the spinners. Our bowling department is doing great, but we need to step up in the batting department. We will try to improve that in the upcoming matches,” she said.
Pakistan’s batting has been an evident concern; they’ve managed totals of 129, 159, and 114 in their three completed games, which are way below par even in a T20I contest these days. But Sohail, who has scored 19 runs across two innings in the tournament, believes that familiarity with conditions will aid better execution going forward. “We’ve played four matches here, so now we know what the conditions are like. We know how to go about things in the upcoming matches, so we will try to go and execute it better,” she explained.
Sohail also underlined Pakistan’s bowling strength, which has been the team’s major positive in a difficult campaign. Skipper Fatima Sana’s 4/27 against England, the second-best figures by a Pakistani captain in Women’s World Cup history, has been a standout. With 9 wickets at an average of 16 and an economy rate of 4.23, Sana currently sits joint-third on the overall wicket-takers’ list, alongside Sophie Ecclestone and Deepti Sharma. “She’s been in a great rhythm as far as bowling is concerned,” Sohail praised. “I hope she’ll continue to do so for us in the upcoming games as well. As a team, we’ll keep getting better.”
When asked about a potentially defendable target against New Zealand’s strong batting lineup, Sohail gave a tactical glimpse into Pakistan’s plans. “They are a good team, but our bowling unit is also doing great. So, we will try to restrict them to a good total of around 200, which would be beneficial for us,” she noted.
Despite the growing consensus that Pakistan’s World Cup campaign may be nearing its end, Sohail insisted that the squad is not taking any game lightly. “No, no, not relaxed, we still have a chance to qualify for the semi’s if we win our remaining three matches,” she asserted. “There are a few scenarios that are still favouring us for a spot in the semis, if we manage to win our remaining three games.”
On a personal front, the Karachi-born batter shed light on her recent adjustments after rejoining the playing XI against England. “I think the main challenge is to play the new ball. If you see in the earlier matches, the pitch is assisting seam movement. So, I’m trying to work on my game against the new ball,” she said.
Looking ahead, Sohail summarised Pakistan’s current focus candidly: “I think the areas of improvement that we’re focusing on is our batting; we need to click as a unit, and the batters need to step up and put up a good total.”
As Pakistan readies themselves to take on a disciplined New Zealand side, the equation is simple: win by a massive margin to survive. With their captain leading the bowling charts and an improved batting intent promised, the Colombo encounter is not just a match; it’s Pakistan’s final stand to keep their World Cup dream alive.
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