"We are constantly improving" – Pakistan ready to make most of T20 World Cup opportunity

S.M. HUSSAIN: The national team is heading into the T20 World Cup in Australia with genuine aspirations. The team was put through a robust training camp in Karachi and hopes are high

• Women's T20 World Cup Hub

Women’s cricket has come a long way in Pakistan – from the lone teenage girl practising with male cricketers at the Karachi Gymkhana nets in the late 1980s to today. Now, the women have contracts, academies, and state of the art facilities.

The players hail from all parts of the country – from the cosmopolitan city of Karachi to the northern, picturesque Gilgit-Baltistan. But they share the same dream and passion – to represent their country and to wear the green jersey with a gold-coloured Pakistan star embossed near the heart.

The most promising facet of this scenario is that unlike the past, the girls now have the full support of their families.

In the recent triangular T20 domestic tournament, Pakistan player Kainat Imtiaz represented PCB Dynamites and her mother Salima – a qualified umpire – performed the umpiring duties in the same match. In her youth, she had wanted to play cricket for her country but couldn’t, so she encouraged her daughter to live her dream. This story truly reflects the journey of women’s cricket in Pakistan.

The national team is heading into the T20 World Cup in Australia with genuine aspirations. The team was put through a robust training camp in Karachi. Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof is looking forward to the big event. “It is my first World Cup as captain and I’m quite excited about it,” she said before flying over for the tournament.

The side’s displays have improved in recent years. “If you compare our recent performance with the past then you’ll notice that we have played much-improved cricket,” Maroof added. “We have worked on many areas, batters have started to take responsibility and bowlers are giving match-winning performances.

“We are constantly improving, therefore, we have produced some good results in the last few T20 matches. Our batting is well settled, every player knows their respective roles.”

Speaking about the biggest challenge to the team during the competition, she said: “We have a young squad and I’m looking forward to the tournament. T20 is a fast game and fielding is an important factor, it is the key.

“In the past, we lost a flurry of wickets after good starts and we have worked on that. If you look at our recent victories you’ll notice that we have won due to combined efforts. Australia and England are way ahead, they both play competitive cricket, they play domestic leagues so there is a difference between us and them, but we are trying to catch up.”

^{Bismah Maroof will be key to Pakistan's success}

About the team’s chances and players to watch out for in the forthcoming mega event she said: “I won’t take one name but on their day every player has the ability to win a match for us. Momentum will be important for us and it can take us to the next round. Iram Javed, Aliya Riaz, Nida Dar and the newcomer Ayesha Naseem can be useful as power hitters. In the last four years, we have got good support from the public and media; especially social media and we need everyone’s backing so we can bring good results home.”

Aliya Riaz, a flamboyant allrounder from Rawalpindi, said: “Nida (Dar) and I have worked hard on our power hitting. The World Cup is an important event and I’d like to perform as an allrounder and do well for the team.

“Youngsters have come in the team and we have a very good combination of seniors and juniors. There is good competition within the team between the fast bowlers. The bowling coach Saleem Jaffer has worked on our bowling and he will also be with us on the tour which will be a great help.”

The mainstay of Pakistan batting, Karachi-born Javeria Khan added: “Keeping the Aussie conditions in mind we have practised on cement pitches. We have practiced under lights which helped us prepare for the forthcoming event.

“Our aim is to play good cricket and make it to the top four. The youngster Ayesha Naseem is a rare talent and I hope she will do well, but we will also miss the experience of Sana Mir, she is a legend, a role model for us.”

Right-arm seamer Aiman Anwer added: “I focus more on the economy than wickets in T20 matches. I try to restrict the opposition and if I get wickets along the way then it’s well and good.  I want to improve my batting because in T20 cricket all-rounders are useful to the team – sometimes a tail-ender has to get four runs on one delivery, so we (lower order) should be prepared for that.

“I have practised my scoop shot which can be useful in Australia. If you’re not able to get runs in front of the wicket then you always have the option to score runs between third-man and fine-leg.”