The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 will mark the ninth edition of this prestigious tournament, where 10 top teams from around the globe will battle for glory from October 3 to October 20 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Divided into two groups, the teams will compete in a round-robin group stage, with the top two from each group advancing to the semi-finals, culminating in a grand final on October 20.
Pakistan’s struggles and aspirations
Historically, the Pakistan women’s team has struggled in this competition. Despite participating in all eight previous editions, they are yet to reach the semi-finals. Their record stands at eight wins in 32 games, a statistic that highlights their challenges at the highest level of women’s T20 cricket. However, under new leadership, Pakistan will be determined to break this pattern and make an impact in the 2024 edition.
Group A challenges: Facing the best in the world
Placed in Group A, Pakistan faces an uphill battle against some of the world’s most formidable teams. The group includes India, New Zealand, and defending champions Australia, making Pakistan’s path to the knockout stages highly competitive. Rounding out the group is Sri Lanka, against whom Pakistan will kick off their campaign on October 3 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Their second match, one of the tournament’s most anticipated clashes, will be against arch-rivals India on October 6 at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS).
Pakistan will continue their group stage fixtures with a tough match against Australia on October 11 and conclude the group stage with a game against New Zealand on October 14, both at the DICS. Each match will be crucial, with Pakistan hoping to secure enough wins to advance to the semi-finals for the first time in their history.
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Leadership transition and key players
This year’s campaign will be led by the 22-year-old Fatima Sana, who was appointed as the captain by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB). Her leadership, combined with her all-rounder skills, will be vital for Pakistan’s hopes of turning the tide in the competition. The squad is a balanced mix of youth and experience, with players like Nida Dar and Bismah Maroof providing a steady presence in the middle order, while emerging talents like Muneeba Ali and Ayesha Naseem offer explosive potential.
Pakistan’s top-choice XI for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024:
1. Muneeba Ali – Opening Batter
- Role: Left-handed opener.
- Strength: Aggressive batting with a strong ability to accelerate in the powerplay.
- UAE Impact: Muneeba’s shot-making will be essential in exploiting fielding restrictions on UAE’s slower pitches.
2. Sidra Amin – Opening Batter
- Role: Reliable top-order batter.
- Strength: Known for her consistency and ability to build innings.
- UAE Impact: Sidra’s steady approach will help balance the aggressive play of Muneeba, allowing Pakistan to build a solid foundation.
3. Nida Dar – All-rounder
- Role: Middle-order batter, off-spinner.
- Strength: One of the most experienced T20 players, capable of contributing with both bat and ball.
- UAE Impact: Her off-spin will be crucial in controlling the middle overs on UAE’s turning tracks, while her batting can steady the ship under pressure.
4. Aliya Riaz – All-rounder
- Role: Hard-hitting middle-order batter, medium-pacer.
- Strength: Powerful striker of the ball, handy with the ball in hand.
- UAE Impact: Riaz’s big-hitting ability will be important in the death overs, and her medium pace can be effective in UAE’s slower conditions.
5. Iram Javed – Middle-order Batter
- Role: Power hitter.
- Strength: Capable of accelerating the scoring rate during the middle and death overs.
- UAE Impact: Iram’s ability to hit big in the later stages will be vital for finishing strong on low-scoring UAE surfaces.
6. Fatima Sana (Captain) – All-rounder
- Role: Medium-fast bowler, lower-order batter.
- Strength: Leader with reliable pace bowling and useful lower-order hitting.
- UAE Impact: Fatima’s swing bowling will be key to making early breakthroughs, while her batting can provide crucial runs in pressure situations.
7. Omaima Sohail – All-rounder
- Role: Middle-order batter, part-time bowler.
- Strength: Handy with both bat and ball, flexible in roles.
- UAE Impact: Omaima’s contributions with bat and ball will be essential in ensuring balance, particularly as a second spin option in turning conditions.
8. Sadia Iqbal – Left-arm Spinner
- Role: Left-arm orthodox spinner.
- Strength: Economical and wicket-taking option in the middle overs.
- UAE Impact: Sadia’s left-arm spin will be crucial on UAE’s slow, spin-friendly pitches, where she can choke the opposition’s scoring rate.
9. Nashra Sandhu – Left-arm Spinner
- Role: Left-arm spinner.
- Strength: Consistent wicket-taker, strong in middle overs.
- UAE Impact: Sundhu’s ability to turn the ball will be vital in the middle overs to break partnerships and take advantage of spin-friendly conditions.
10. Diana Baig – Fast Bowler
- Role: Right-arm fast bowler.
- Strength: Capable of generating pace and swing with the new ball.
- UAE Impact: Baig’s ability to extract movement early on UAE pitches can create early breakthroughs and put pressure on the opposition.
11. Tuba Hassan – Leg-spinner
- Role: Leg-spin bowler.
- Strength: A promising leg-spinner, skilled at taking wickets in crucial moments.
- UAE Impact: Tuba’s leg-spin will be vital in exploiting the turning conditions in the UAE, offering Pakistan a reliable wicket-taking option in the middle overs.
Also READ: Jess Jonassen picks her favourite team for the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024; also reveals four semi-finalists
This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.
