CHRISTCHURCH: Pakistan women’s team has started training in Christchurch, New Zealand from today after completing mandatory isolation.
The side took part in different drills to get back in the groove after seven-day isolation. The women mega-event will kick off from March 4, 2022, whereas Pakistan will begin their tournament against arch-rivals India on March 6 at Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui.
Eight teams will be competing in the World Cup, each team will play seven matches and the top four teams will qualify for the semifinals. Pakistan women team has never qualified for the semis in their previous four appearances at the World Cup.
The Girls in green made their first appearance on the grand stage in 1997 where they failed to get a single win. Pakistan women saw their first victory in 2009 against Sri Lanka which helped them qualify for the super six round. The previous two World Cup outings have been a horror show for the girls as they were winless in both the 2013 and 2017 World Cups.
Captain Bismah Mahroof is very optimistic before the big clash against arch-rivals India who have a decent record in the World Cups making it to the finals twice in their nine appearances. The skipper of the Pakistani team says she wants to inspire many other young girls to take up the sport by watching them represent the country.
The current squad is a decent mix of experience and youth. Fatima Sana recently became the first Pakistan women cricketer to win the ICC award as she bagged the emerging cricketer of the year. Nida Dar, Javeria Khan and skipper Bismah Mahroof are other notable senior players.
