Riding high on the back of two strong performances, Pakistan have emerged as early frontrunners in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025. With two wins from two matches, the hosts currently sit atop the six-team table with a net run rate of +0.594. As they gear up to face West Indies on Monday, April 14 in Lahore, their unbeaten start has sparked belief and built momentum at a critical juncture in their World Cup journey.
Pakistan opened their campaign with a 38-run victory over Ireland and followed it up with a six-wicket win against Scotland. These weren’t just wins, but team performances filled with intent and execution.
Against Ireland, Muneeba Ali’s 32 off 59, Sidra Amin’s patient 51 off 112, and Aliya Riaz’s fluent 52 off 58 formed the batting backbone. In the bowling department, Diana Baig claimed 4/35, Nashra Sandhu chipped in with 3/41, and Sadia Iqbal added 2/33—dismantling Ireland’s batting order with precision.
The second fixture against Scotland saw the momentum continue. Muneeba Ali smashed 71 off 72, Aliya maintained her form with 68* off 70, and Sadia Iqbal supported with figures of 2/43. Leading from the front, skipper Fatima Sana turned in a spellbinding 4/23 in just five overs, despite nursing an injury—a performance that proved decisive in closing out the match.
Reflecting on how the team will handle high-pressure games moving forward, Fatima pointed toward strategic calmness in tense situations, she stated, “We’ll try to be calm and easy in [batting] partnerships because in situations like these teams tend to buckle down under pressure. We’ll cope with it better and will keep working on it, as the future games will bring greater pressure and intensity.”
What sets Pakistan apart in this campaign is not just the results, but how those results are being achieved—through a wide spectrum of contributions. In both games, different players have taken the spotlight at crucial moments, from the openers laying foundations to the bowlers delivering key breakthroughs.
On how team performances are boosting confidence, she expressed, “This is a good thing for the team, we’ll get a boost. When you win the team gets more confidence and with the big matches coming, we’ll try harder.”
Playing with an injury is never easy, especially in a tournament of such magnitude. Yet, Fatima Sana delivered under pressure, producing a match-defining spell at the death against Scotland that not only swung the momentum but also lifted the spirits of her squad.
On overcoming injury and stepping up with the ball, she revealed, “It was a tough situation due to injury, but I performed well, the team will get confidence along with myself. So, I’m hoping for more good things to come.”
Pakistan’s place in the qualifiers stems from a challenging run in the ICC Women’s Championship cycle, where they managed only 8 wins from 24 matches, with 1 no result, finishing at 9th position—missing out on direct qualification. But that setback has now ignited a sense of purpose, and each outing in this tournament reflects that hunger.
With two games down and one of their toughest opponents on the horizon, Pakistan are not just chasing qualification—they’re building a statement. The April 14 clash against West Indies could shape their path to the Women’s Cricket World Cup later this year, and judging by their current form, Pakistan are more than ready for the battle.
(Quotes sourced from the ICC)
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