PESHAWAR – Pakistan women’s cricket team will complete a century of T20Ison Thursday when they will take the fieldagainst the West Indies women’s cricket team at the Southend Club inKarachi.The first match of the three-game series will start at 11h00 and will bebroadcast live by GEO Super.
In 99 T20Is to date, Pakistan have won 40 and lost 56. In contrast, theWest Indies have featured in 112 T20Is, winning 65 and losing 41.In a head to head, the West Indies lead Pakistan 6-1 in nine T20Is.
Interestingly, when Pakistan won their only T20I in Guyana in September2011, Bismah Maroof (43 not out) and Javeria Khan (37) had put on 83 runsfor the fifth wicket as Pakistan had achieved the 116-run target with 15balls to spare.The two players, along with Sana Mir and Nida Dar, who were also part ofthe side eight years ago, are expected to take the field on Thursday. “Ifeel honored and privileged to captain Pakistan in their 100th T20I.
And to captain in a home series, is even more pleasing,” remarked Bismah.“I want to congratulate all the women cricketers who have been part of thisjourney and also thank the PCB for their support in helping us cherish ourdreams of wearing the crest and star on our shirts.“We are making a steady progress in international cricket.
The more we will play against fancied and strong sides like the WestIndies, the better we will get. We have good talent in the ranks, and allwe lack is regular international experience and exposure. Series like thesewill only help us narrow the gap with the front-running sides.”
Thursday’s encounter between the two sides will be their first meeting inPakistan since 2004 when they played a Test and seven One-DayInternationals in Karachi. The Test was drawn, while the West Indies wonthe ODI series 5-2.The West Indies, who won the ICC Women’s World T20 2016 in Kolkata, areranked fourth in the ICC rankings, while Pakistan is 38 points behind inseventh position.
This means the visitors will start off as favourites, but wins for the homegirls will help them narrow the gap with the more experienced opponents.Previewing the series, West Indies women’s captain Merissa Aguilleira said:“It is fantastic to be here in Pakistan for the T20I series. We are lookingforward to a hugely competitive series against Pakistanand we are very happy to contribute in the revival of international cricketinPakistan.
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“We are going to try our best to entertain the fans and enjoy to thefullest the hospitality in Karachi, I am sure it is going to be a greatseries.” Deandra Dottin, the 27-year from Barbados who has played in 107T20Is, will start as the highest-ranked batter from either side in fifthposition. Dottin has hit ninehalf-centuries and two centuries in 105 innings in which she has scored2,210 runs.
Javeria is Pakistan’s highest-ranked batter in 14th position. The30-year-old veteran of 85 matches has scored 1,487 runs with fivehalf-centuries and has also taken 11 wickets. Other high ranking batters tofeature in the series are Bismah Maroof (18th), Sana Mir (43rd), KyciaKnight (53rd), Shemaine Campbelle (61st) and Merissa Aguilleira (62nd).In the bowling chart, Nida Dar and Nashra Sandhu sit in ninth and 10thpositions, respectively. Other top ranked bowlers are Anam Amin (19th),Shamilia Connell (23rd), Deandra Dottin (31st), Anisa Mohammed (33rd) andSana Mir (35th).
Following the T20Is series, the two sides will travel to Dubai where theywill lock horns in the fourth round of the ICC Women’s Championship. Thethree ODIs, which will be part of the fourth round, will be played on 7, 9and 11 February. The first ODI will be played at the Dubai InternationalCricket Stadium, while the second and third ODIs will be played at the ICCAcademy.Squads:
Pakistan women’s cricket team – Bismah Maroof (captain), Aiman Anwar, AliyaRiaz, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Irum Javed, Javeria Khan, Nashra Sandhu,Natalia Pervaiz, Nida Dar, Sana Mir, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper)and Omaima Sohail.
West Indies women’s cricket team – Merissa Aguilleira (T20I capt), ShemaineCampbelle, Shamilia Connell, Deandra Dottin, Afy Fletcher, Chinelle Henry,Kycia Knight, Natasha McClean, Anisa Mohammed, Chedean Nation, KarishmaRamharack, Shakera Selman and Rashada Williams.
