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KARACHI: Flanked by a new deputy in the young but experienced all- rounder Bisma Maroof, Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Sana Mir is hopeful of her team’s chances in the 2011 ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifiers (WWCQ) in Dhaka, Bangladesh.
“We are going in with only one change since the West Indies tour as Naheeda Khan has replaced Mariam Hassan. I am a very happy captain right now even though I think I will also be a very confused captain when picking my 11 players before in the qualifiers,” Sana jokingly said as Pakistan prepared to take off for their flight to Dhaka at the Quaid-i-Azam International Airport here on Saturday morning.
“I expect my team to do very well. We have so many exceptional all- rounders and match-winning players in our side. All are great performers like my vice captain Bisma, who seems to be getting better in both her batting and bowling with the passing of each day, something which was also acknowledged by the ICC recently,” she pointed out.
The WWCQ are being played on a new format with 10 contenders this year from which four will feature in the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 unlike the last qualifiers held in South Africa in 2008 from which only two -- Pakistan and the hosts South Africa – had earned berths.
Besides being a qualifying event, the tournament also gives the participating teams a chance to improve on their rankings.
The 10 teams have been divided into two groups. Pakistan is placed in Group ‘B’ with hosts Bangladesh, West Indies, Ireland and Japan while Group ‘A’ comprises South Africa, Sri Lanka, Netherlands, Zimbabwe and USA.
Pakistan are currently ranked at number eight.
The four top teams in this event will earn the world rankings of fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth.
“So if we win the tournament, we straightaway reach fifth, improving our ranking by three spots. Our first goal, however, is to win all our four group matches to top the group,” she said.
Sana thought they would get their toughest competition from West Indies and Ireland.
“Both cannot be taken lightly as they are very good bowling and fielding sides,” she elaborated.
Former bowling and fielding coach Mohtasim Rashid will be accompanying the team as the chief coach after taking over from Mansoor Rana. The tournament rolls into action from Monday when Pakistan play their first match against hosts Bangladesh at the Shere Bangla National Stadium.
Team: Sana Mir (captain), Bisma Maroof (vice captain), Javeria Wadood, Nain Abidi, Nida Dar, Marina Iqbal, Batool Fatima (wicketkeeper), Qanita Jalil, Asmavia Iqbal, Masooma Junaid, Sadia Yousuf, Naheeda Khan, Kainat Imtiaz and Rabiya Shah.
Officials: Mohtasim Rashid (coach), Shahid Aslam (manager) and Sunaina Munir (physiotherapist).
