Lahore: As the T20 World Cup 2024 approaches, Pakistan’s women’s cricket team captain Fatima Sana has declared a bold shift towards a more aggressive batting style, aiming to challenge for the title in the UAE. This strategic shift is in response to the team’s historical performance issues in the powerplay and middle overs, where scoring rates and wicket preservation have been problematic.
According to International Cricket Council, Sana highlighted that the evolution of the team’s batting approach has positioned them as contenders for the upcoming World Cup. Recently, the team achieved their highest total in Women’s T20Is, scoring 181 against South Africa, and successfully defended this total, setting a new benchmark for their competitive capabilities.
Sana emphasized the importance of maximizing the powerplay overs to set competitive scores, a strategy observed in top international teams. She pointed out that recent games have seen Pakistan adopting a more assertive batting stance, which has been bolstered by the emergence of promising young players. The captain herself has demonstrated significant prowess with the bat, scoring 101 runs at a strike rate of 157.81 in her last three innings, underscoring her role as a key player in tough situations.
The team’s batting lineup is further strengthened by notable performances from Gull Feroza and Muneeba Ali, with the latter making significant contributions at the top of the order. Experienced players like Nida Dar, Sidra Amin, and Aliya Riaz are expected to stabilize the middle order, ensuring that Pakistan can build substantial innings whether setting or chasing targets.
On the bowling front, Pakistan boasts a robust lineup, including top-ranked spinners Sadia Iqbal and Nashra Sundhu, alongside the experienced Nida Dar. The pace attack is led by Diana Baig, with Sana herself contributing as a key all-rounder, enhancing the team’s strategic depth.
With recent victories against formidable teams like New Zealand and India, Sana is optimistic about Pakistan’s prospects in the World Cup. She believes that competing against top-tier teams not only boosts confidence but also extracts the best performance from her squad. The captain’s focus is on winning as many matches as possible, leveraging the team’s growing prowess and the passionate support from fans back home.
As the team heads into the World Cup, the mix of youthful energy and seasoned expertise within the squad suggests that Pakistan might well exceed expectations and advance deep into the tournament stages.