The Pakistan Women’s cricket team is set to commence its campaign in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup today, facing Bangladesh in their opening group-stage match. The team secured its place in the prestigious eight-team tournament by maintaining an unbeaten record in the World Cup qualifiers held in Lahore earlier this year. All of Pakistan’s group matches, and potential knockout rounds, will be hosted at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
This World Cup presents a landmark opportunity for seven players in the 15-member squad, who are poised to make their debut in an ODI World Cup. The debutantes include Eyman Fatima, Natalia Parvaiz, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, and Syeda Aroob Shah. Their inclusion brings a wave of new talent to the side as they step onto the global stage.
Speaking ahead of the high-pressure opener, Captain Fatima Sana voiced strong optimism about her team’s chances. She highlighted the strength of the squad’s world-class spin attack, which she believes will be well-suited to the pitch conditions in Sri Lanka. Sana expressed her hope that the team would successfully handle the pressures of the mega-event and replicate their strong performances from the qualifiers.
Confident from their previous encounter, Captain Sana recalled Pakistan’s victory over Bangladesh in the qualifiers in Lahore, stating the team intends to carry that winning momentum into today’s crucial match. The squad, led by Sana and vice-captain Muneeba Ali, is a blend of experienced players and exciting new talent, all united in their goal to make a deep run in the tournament.
