KARACHI: Pakistan national women’s team has reached New Zealand to participate in the ICC Women’s World Cup Cricket, starting from March 4.
The team left during the wee hours of Wednesday morning from Karachi. The team will reach Auckland first and then travelled to Christchurch via chartered flight where they will undergo a mandatory 10-days isolation period.
Host New Zealand will take on West Indies in the opening match on March 4. Pakistan will start their campaign against arch-rivals against India on March 6 at Bay Oval in Tauranga.
Pakistan’s captain Bismah Maroof has expressed her desire and objective to qualify for the tournament’s semi-finals. “We have worked hard in the training camp. The effort is to reach the semi-final of the event,” she said.
Bismah also discussed their upcoming match against India, stating that the team will enter the field with a new and improved mindset. “We have to play well from the first match in this type of tournament. Our first match is against India and we will play with a different mindset,” she said.
Bismah believes the team is in good form right now but acknowledges that the players will have to adjust quickly to the new conditions in New Zealand.
“Our team is currently in good form and is doing well. The team has improved a lot in my absence,” she said. “Conditions in New Zealand are different, but we will try to adjust accordingly,” she added.
Bismah was optimistic about the team’s bowling attack which she sees as a strength. She did confess, though, that the Pakistan Women’s squad is short of wicket-keepers and she hopes that more options are available in the future.
Karachi ???? Dubai ???? Auckland ???? Christchurch
Our women’s team have reached New Zealand for #CWC22 #BackOurGirls pic.twitter.com/hoFX4e00IN
— Pakistan Cricket (@TheRealPCB) February 10, 2022
Pakistan squad
Bismah Maroof (captain), Nida Dar (vice-captain), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin and Sidra Nawaz
Traveling reserves: Iram Javed, Najiha Alvi and Tuba Hassan
