INCHEON: Pakistan’s women cricket captain Sana Mir declared on Friday that retaining the gold medal at the Asian Games is a great achievement by his team.

“It was really tough and pressure game in the final against Bangladesh, but our players fought hard to achieve the glory and honour for Pakistan,” she told reporters in a post-match press conference at Yeonhui Cricket Ground after her team’s four-run victory in a thrilling final.

She rated Sadia Yousuf’s double strike as the turning point of the match which tilted the match towards Pakistan.

Sana said there was a lot of pressure on her team after Bangladesh got the revised target of 43 to win following the rain.

“We felt great pressure at times as it was touch and go situation. But our bowlers really bowled well to rout the Bangladesh batting in the last three overs,” she said. “Winning the gold here will be a great boost for women sports and help in rapid development of women cricketers in Pakistan.”

“Before our victory in Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010, not much emphasis was paid to women’s cricket. But this win will prove that we are on the rise,” Sana remarked.

Responding to a question about her team’s not too impressive batting show, Sana said cricket is a team sport and what mattered is the victory here.

Pakistan coach Mohtashim Rasheed was also a delighted man. “There was huge pressure after Bangladesh had bowled us out for a low score. But our players really lived up to the task and won a thriller,” he said.

Bangladesh captain Salma Khatun said the dismissal of Farzana Haque was the turning point of her team after she was bowled by Sadia for 10.

Published in Dawn, September 27th, 2014