Girls in Green pumped to win against Australia for captain Fatima

The stage is set for an electrifying contest as Pakistan take on defending champions Australia in the Women's T20 World Cup at Dubai International Stadium (DIS) today.

Both teams enter the match with high stakes; Australia, aiming to maintain their unbeaten streak, and Pakistan, desperate to pull off an upset to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Fatima Sana, who returned home after her father’s demise, will be at the forefront of her teammates’ thoughts when they take to the field.

Fatima Sana’s absence

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana will not be participating in the clash against Australia in Dubai. The 22-year-old returned to Karachi Thursday evening following the death of her father, as confirmed by a PCB official.

In Sana’s absence, wicket-keeper batter Muneeba Ali will be leading the team against the reigning champions. “We are very saddened by the tragedy of the death of Fatima's father,” Ali said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

“Fatima is our captain and the qualities she possesses in batting and bowling are very good and she gives our team a good balance.”

Obviously we will miss her as a captain and as a player, but we will try to win the match for her and her father - Muneeba Ali

Tough void to fill

Sana’s absence is a significant setback for Pakistan, who are in a tough position in Group A. They need to win at least one, and ideally both, of their remaining games to have a chance of making the semi-finals.

Since taking over the captaincy, Sana’s aggressive batting approach has brought a fresh mindset to the team, a shift that has been evident in Pakistan's recent performances.

Sana is the youngest captain at the ongoing Women's T20 World Cup and has been pivotal in Pakistan's campaign so far. In their opening match, she played a leading role in Pakistan’s upset win over Asia Cup champions Sri Lanka, top-scoring with 30 runs and taking two vital wickets.

Fatima Sana batting in match against Sri Lanka in ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024ICC

In their match against India, Sana again made an impact, helping Pakistan hold off India's chase of a small target. Her back-to-back wickets of Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh created a brief scare for India, preventing a major blow to Pakistan's net run rate.

Currently third in the group with one win and one loss, Pakistan will face Australia today, followed by a key clash against New Zealand in Dubai on Monday to close out their league stage.

Muneeba Ali confident to win

While Sana’s departure will bring obvious changes in Pakistan’s combination, Ali is confident that they “have the resources to cover all the bases.”

The 27-years-old hopes to rely on spin twins Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sandhu, who have made economical starts to the competition – conceding just five and four-and-a-half runs per over respectively to date.

“Sadia has been an important member of our team for the past 1-1.5 years,” Ali said. “The way Nashra supports us in the middle overs is sometimes overlooked.

“We know that they are very important for us and they have broken partnerships for us in difficult matches. We all have an idea and we all value it. And we know that on their day, they are very good for us.”

Australia - The Powerhouse

Australia have been living up to their reputation as champions, riding an impressive streak of 13 consecutive victories in T20 World Cup matches since 2020.

Their dominance over Pakistan is even more striking, having won all 13 encounters between the two sides in T20Is. Securing another win today would virtually guarantee Australia a spot in the semi-finals.

The switch to Dubai might offer a fresh challenge after playing their first two matches on the slower pitch and outfield in Sharjah.

Australian bowler Annabel Sutherland said that while Pakistan’s spinners potentially could pose a bit of a threat, they’re ready for the challenge.

“This is another opportunity to go out there in a World Cup, new conditions, and adapt against a new line-up,” Sutherland said in the pre-match press conference on Thursday.

Annabel Sutherland celebrating a wicket with her teammates in match against New Zealand in Women's T20 World Cup 2024ICC

“We're going to have to plan and think about as an individual, how you're going to take on their line-up. I feel like my variations are playing a role and working in the conditions that we've got.”

Head to head

The rivalry between Pakistan and Australia women's cricket teams in T20Is has been a one-sided affair, with Australia consistently asserting their dominance. Of the thirteen encounters between the two sides, Australia have been victorious in all.