Pak women to kickoff WC campaign against Sri Lanka today

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will kick off their ICC Women’s T20 World Cup campaign with the opening match against Sri Lanka at Sharjah Stadium today (Thursday).

Pakistan are slotted in Group ‘A’ alongside Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies are in Group ‘B’. The Greenshirts will feature against arch-rivals India on October 6 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS). Pakistan will then be in action against defending champions Australia on October 11 at the DICS, while their last group match will be against New Zealand on October 14 at the same venue.

Pakistan held a three hours of training session under head coach Mohammad Waseem at the Sharjah Stadium on Wednesday. As per the World Cup format, top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals set to take place on 17 and 18 October, while the winner of the tournament will be decided on 20 October. The first ball of the final, to take place at the DICS, is expected to be bowled at 6pm local time.

Pakistan have featured and lost in two warm-up games against Scotland and Bangladesh prior to the start of the tournament and also took part in various practice sessions to acclimatise to the conditions. Bangladesh and Scotland match will start the 16-day event at the Sharjah Ground.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana sounded confident about her team’s preparations and expressed her belief to do well in the tournament. She said: “We have prepared well for the mega event. The series against South Africa at home before coming to the UAE helped us know our strengths and allowed our batters to show their form.

“The two practice games have also helped us in assessing the conditions here and now has provided us with clarity regarding the right combination of players in the tournament.” 15-member squad for the tournament: Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan.

Pakistan fixtures in ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: October 3 vs Sri Lanka (1900 PKT); Sharjah Cricket Stadium

October 6 vs India (1500 PKT); Dubai International Cricket Stadium

October 11 vs Australia (1900 PKT); Dubai International Cricket Stadium

October 14 vs New Zealand (1900 PKT); Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan are the only two teams to have participated in all eight previous editions of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup without qualifying for the semi-finals; neither team has won more than two games in a single edition of the competition.

Pakistan had a catch success rate of 94% (16/17) at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 - the best of any team in the tournament and 15 percentage points higher than the next best (South Africa -- 79%, 19/24); in addition, they made three stumpings -- the joint-most of any team when fielding in the campaign (also Australia -- 3 and Sri Lanka -- 3).

New Zealand had a bowling dot ball rate of 49% at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023, the best rate of any team; in addition, their bowling economy rate (5.9) was the second best of any team in the campaign (Australia - 5.8).