ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Pakistan women’s cricket team all-rounder Sajjida Shah, who was ranked 17th in the bowlers’ category by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in Mumbai on Thursday, has attributed the honour to her hard work and has pledged to further improve her international ranking.

While speaking to Dawn, Sajjida said: “I am very happy to be included among the top 20 women cricketers of the world.”

Sajjida, who is also vice-captain of the national women’s team, asserted that she wants to improve her ranking further. “Bowling with line and length and getting more wickets would be my top priority in the upcoming international matches,” said sajjida. “But that really depends on our being able to take part in more international competitions,” she added.

“Cancellation of the West Indies tour to Pakistan was a major blow for all of us. Playing the home series would have further increased the international rankings for several players within the squad, including myself,” she said.

The West Indies women team, as a part of their Asian tour, were to play five One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 matches in Karachi and Hyderabad but the series was called off due to their security concerns after the Sept 20 bombing at the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad.