LAHORE: Several under-achievers and inconsistent performers have been named by the PCB in the two national women squads selected for the upcoming tour of Australia and the 17th Asian Games to be held in Incheon, South Korea in September.

The women team’s tour of Australia runs from Aug 15 to Sept 6, before they participate in the Asian Games, where they will defend the title.

Women’s cricket in Pakistan was rocked earlier on Wednesday by the shocking death of teenage cricketer Haleema Rafique in Multan who reportedly committed suicide owing to the step-motherly treatment of the cricket fraternity towards her.

However, it seems that the PCB is not willing to learn from this stunning event and continues to pick its blue-eyed players in the women’s team at the expense of some fine performers in domestic seasons who have been knocking the doors of top level cricket for quite some time now.

In fact, even captain Sana Mir’s performance is also under a spotlight after her below par show in the 2014 T20 World Cup-held in Bangladesh. She could score just 86 runs in six matches at a poor average of 17.20 while she also failed to impress with the ball, taking just three wickets for 167 runs at an expensive average of 55.67 apiece.

In the last Benazir T20 Cup, Sana could score just 83 in four matches while she did not participate at all in the Fatima Jinnah Cup.

Sana’s deputy Bismah Maroof, however, displayed good performances to retain her place in the team. Other women players who failed in the World Cup and yet retained their places include Javeria Wadood (six matches, 99 runs at 15.67), Nida Dar (six matches, 68 run at 13.60) and Nain Abidi (four matches, 51 runs at 12.75).

In the bowling department, Qanita Jalil (2-87 at 43.50) and Sadia Yousuf (2-61 at 30.50) were also selected despite their poor run in the World Cup.

On the other hand, Sajjida Shah who was the highest run getter of the Fatima Jinnah Cup with an aggregate of 303 from five matches, amazingly failed to get a place even in the reserves list.

Moreover, the performances from Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper), Aram Amon, Maham Tariq and Kainat Imtiaz had left a lot be desired but they still feature in the national team for two assignments which is unfair selection by any standard.

A training camp for women cricketers will be held at the National Cricket Academy here from Aug 5-14.

Pakistan women’s team (Australia tour):

Sana Mir (captain), Bismah Maroof (vice captain), Syeda Nain Abidi, Sidra Nawaz, Nida Rashid, Javeria Wadood, Asmavia Iqbal, Marina Iqbal, Aliya Riaz, Qanita Jalil, Sumaiya Siddiqui, Maham Tariq, Sania Iqbal, Sadia Yousuf.

Reserves: Rabiya Shah, Nahida Khan, Sidra Amin, Anam Amin, Iram Javed.

Asian Games: Sana Mir (captain), Bismah Maroof (vice captain), Syeda Nain Fatima Abidi, Sidra Nawaz (wicket-keeper), Nida Rashid Dar, Javeria Wadood, Asmavia Iqbal, Marina Iqbal, Aliya Riaz, Kainat Imtiaz, Sumaiya Siddiqui, Qanita Jalil, Sania Iqbal, Anam Amon, Sadia Yousuf.

Reserves: Rabiya Shah, Maham Tariq, Iram Javed, Nahida Khan.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2014