KARACHI, Dec 27: Hosts Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka in the opening match of the Women’s Asia Cup on Thursday at National Stadium Karachi (NSK) with participating teams’ skippers promising positive approach. Mithali Raj, Shshikala Siriwardane and Sana Javed, skippers of India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan, respectively, shared identical views at a joint pre-tournament conference at NSK on Tuesday and said that their teams would display positive cricket to make the event a success.

Hyderabad-born, Mithali Raj, captain of defending champions, India said that her team came after a lot of practice and was playing together for the past two years.

She was confident that the team would successfully defend their title. India won the inaugural edition of the event in Sri Lanka in 2004.

Sri Lankan skipper, Shshikala Siriwardane was of the view that her team was looking for their maiden Asia Cup title and was hopeful of a good show.

All-rounder Sana Javed, captain of the hosts side said that her team was in learning process and would do their best in the competition. Meanwhile, only families are allowed to watch the women cricket sensation without any entry fee.

The winners of the event would get US$1000 while the runners-up would pocket US$500. The Women-of-the-Series will receive $200 while a Woman-of-the-Match award is $100 for every match.

Schedule: Dec 28, 2005: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, NSK Dec 29, 2005: India vs Sri Lanka, Karachi Gymkhana. Dec 30, 2005: Pakistan vs India, NSK Dec 31, 2005: Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, NSK Jan 01, 2006: India vs Sri Lanka, Karachi Gymkhana Jan 02, 2006: Pakistan vs India, NSK Jan 03: (Rest Day) Jan 04: Final, NSK

Teams:

Pakistan: Sana Javed (captain), Humaira Masroor, Sajjida Shah, Shumaila Mushtaq, Taskeen Qadeer, Urooj Mumtaz Khan (vice captain), Arman Khan (wicket keeper), Batul Fatima, Marium Butt, Qanita Jalil, Uzma Malik, Asmavia Iqbal, Sabahat Rasheed, Sana Mir. Stand byes: Khurshid Jabeen, Misbah Butt, Nazia Nazir, Sadia Butt. Officials: Mrs. Shehnaz Sohail (manager), Imtiaz Ahmed (coach), Tariq Siddiqui (asst. coach), Talib (trainer).

India: Mithali Raj (Captain), Neetu David, Nooshin Al-Khadeer, Amita Sharma, Rumeli Dhar, Jaya Sharma, Monica Sharma, Varsha Raphael, Anjum Chopra, Jhulan Goswami, Karuna Jain, Devika Palshikar, Asha Rawat, Reema Malhotra Officials: Veena Paralkar (Manager), Sudha Shah, Anjali Pendharkar (Media Manager), Mr. Shiv Shankar (Physio)

Sri Lanka: Shshikala Siriwardene (captain),Eshani Kaushalya, A. Indralatha, Hiroshi Abeyasinghe, W A Chandrawathie, Randika Galhenege , Sumudu Fernando, Janakanthi Mala, Dedunu de Silva (Vice-Captain), Praba Udawatte, Chamari Pologampola, Dumila Dedunu (Wicketkeeper), Suwini de Alwis, Inoka Galagedera Officials: Bernard Perera (Coach), S.K. Ravindran (Manager), Deepthi Guneratne (Asst. Manager), Pushpa Jayasiri (Physiotherapist).—PPI