Women’s T20 World Cup: Can Pakistan paint the town green?

With a blend of emerging talent and experienced players in its squad, Pakistan women’s cricket team stands poised to make a mark in the upcoming Women’s Twenty20 World Cup.

The 15-member squad departed for Dubai on Monday to participate in the ninth edition of the 17-day tournament, starting October 3.

Despite the challenges, Team Green has shown commendable progress over the years, highlighted by a mix of promising performances both in bilateral series and international tournaments. Let’s take a closer look at Pakistan’s prospects in the mega event.

Key strengths

Nida Dar’s experience

Bringing a wealth of experience and skill to the squad, Nida Dar has been a pillar of Pakistan women’s cricket team since her debut in 2010. The 37-year-old is the highest wicket-taker from Pakistan, with 143 wickets to her name.

Dar, who has scored 2021 runs in the shortest format, is also the second highest run-scorer for her country, lagging behind only former captain Bismah Maroof, who is on top with 2893 runs. The all-rounder has regularly contributed crucial runs in the middle order, often stabilizing innings amid early fall of wickets.

Nida Dar celebrates taking a wicket during a match against South AfricaPCB

Dar has consistently provided crucial breakthroughs through her bowling, characterized by clever variations and tight lines, making her a key player in the team's strategy. The all-rounder’s extensive international experience, being the most capped T20I player (156 matches) from Pakistan, allows her to maintain composure under pressure, making her a vital asset in the fast-paced T20 format.

Bowling attack

Pakistan’s bowling attack, featuring the likes of Nashra Sandhu, Sadia Iqbal and Diana Baig, has the potential to trouble opponents. Iqbal, whose participation is still subject to fitness, has made her mark in T20Is since her debut. With her growing tally of wickets, 53 at an average of 18, the 29-year-old has demonstrated her ability to step up under pressure.

Meanwhile, Sandhu, with 60 wickets in the shortest format, has emerged a formidable spinner for Pakistan in T20Is, frequently showcasing her skills in both taking wickets and controlling the run rate. Baig, who is known for her aggressive bowling style, has also made major strides as a fast bowler for the country, combining pace with precision to trouble the batters.

Together the three form a strong core for Pakistan’s T20I squad, each bringing unique strengths that contribute to the team’s success.

Sadia Iqbal reacts after taking a wicket against Sri Lanka during Women's Asia Cup 2024ACC

Fatima Sana’s captaincy

After emerging as a key figure in Pakistan women’s cricket in the last five years, Fatima Sana was named captain for the T20 world cup last month. The 22-year-old has represented the country in 44 T20Is and previously led the national emerging and domestic sides.

Sana, who made her debut in 2019 and plays as an all-rounder, has the highest batting average (26.33) among the current world cup squad. The youngster has previously captained Pakistan twice in One-day Internationals, including a famous win against New Zealand in a super over at Christchurch in December last year.

This will be Sana’s first time as a captain at any International Cricket Council’s (ICC) event. She recently lost the three-match home series 2-1 against South Africa in Multan in her debut captaincy stunt. While the judgment on Sana’s captaincy may remain unresolved as of yet and be well under scrutiny in the upcoming tournament, her consistent performance with bat and ball makes her a reliable and valuable asset to the team.

Past performances

As of 2024, Pakistan women’s team have participated in eight T20 World Cups. The team made its T20 World Cup debut in 2009, marking a major milestone in the development of women’s game. Despite struggling to find consistency in the initial tournaments, the team has begun to show glimpses of growth as it evolved.

While several achievements have boosted the team’s confidence, the inconsistency in batting and fielding has always hampered their progress. For instance, Pakistan’s average runs per match drifts between 100-120, which is relatively lower than their rivals, indicating a need for a stronger batting depth.

Pakistan-India rivalry

Placed together in the same group, Pakistan and India are set to lock horns at the initial stage of the tournament on October 6. India holds the upper hand as the neighboring country has consistently outperformed Pakistan in T20 World Cups. Of the seven times the two teams faced each other, India defeated Pakistan five times, losing only twice; once in 2012 World Cup held in Sri Lanka and then in the 2016 World Cup held in India.

Challenges faced

While there has been tremendous growth in women’s cricket lately, the Pakistan team also faces several challenges.

Inconsistent performances

Following the footsteps of the men’s team, inconsistency has been the hallmark of Pakistan women’s T20 team. Despite having moments of brilliance, such as reaching the semifinals in 2014 T20 World Cup, the team's difficulty in maintaining momentum and delivering consistent results limit their ability to progress in the tournaments. This lack of consistency stems from many factors, including mishandling pressure in high-stakes games, incompetency in facing stronger bowling attacks and poor fielding. Pakistan’s ability to handle pressure, particularly in knockout stages, will be crucial.

Tough opponents

Pakistan has been clubbed with Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Group A at the upcoming T20 World Cup. Competing against these top-ranked teams poses a significant challenge as the cricketing powerhouses possess deeper talent pools and more resources. The disparity in experience and performance levels can be daunting for Pakistan as it has previously struggled to match the pace and intensity of the opponents.

As Girls in Green prepare for the T20 World Cup, the combination of talent, experience and determination sets a hopeful tone for their campaign. With an attacking mindset and right strategy, they have the potential to surprise their opponents.

Pakistan’s T20 World Cup 2024 Squad: 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 (subject to fitness), Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba Hassan