Karachi: Following a six-wicket defeat to India at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, Pakistan’s cricket captain Fatima Sana hinted at potential changes to the team’s batting order. The loss, which occurred after Pakistan chose to bat first, saw the team’s top order falter, managing only 105/8, a total that proved insufficient against India’s lineup.
According to International Cricket Council, the discussion about the batting order change was spurred by the top order’s underperformance, with only Muneeba Ali reaching double figures among the starters. Sana, who contributed a quick 13 runs, expressed concern over the team’s inability to utilize the powerplay effectively and acknowledged the need for tactical adjustments to fully capitalize on the batting conditions.
The captain suggested that, moving forward, she might be promoted from her current finishing role at number seven to a higher spot in the batting lineup. “Hopefully next match I will [bat higher],” Sana remarked during the post-match press conference. She emphasized the importance of senior players stepping up in major tournaments and maintained that the team would discuss how to optimize the batting order to enhance their performance.
Sana’s performance with the ball, including taking two wickets in consecutive deliveries, sparked a brief hope of a comeback against India, indicating her crucial role in the team’s strategy both as a batter and bowler. Despite the slow pitch conditions, which she mentioned hindered aggressive batting from both sides, Sana’s leadership focus is on refining team tactics and batting roles.
Pakistan’s position in Group A remains competitive, thanks to an earlier victory over Sri Lanka by 31 runs, which keeps their net run rate healthy. With challenging matches ahead against defending champions Australia and New Zealand, Sana’s leadership and strategic decisions will be pivotal in Pakistan’s quest to advance in the tournament.