Womens ODI World Cup | Pakistan will look to make a mark in transition section

In full movement: Sidra, who has been a constant performer, supplies stability and a great deal of runs on the prime. | Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

Pakistan’s journey to the 2025 ICC Women’s ODI World Cup was turbulent, marked by inconsistency and management adjustments. The crew struggled within the 2022/23–2025 ICC Women’s Championship, profitable solely eight of 24 matches and ending ninth, making qualification by means of rankings out of the equation.

A dominant efficiency within the Qualifier noticed Pakistan win all 5 matches and confidently storm again into the World Cup once more. Fatima Sana’s management was central to this revival as she guided a facet in transition.

The crew’s World Cup marketing campaign, nevertheless, will depend on contributions from its mainstays. Sidra Amin, in fantastic kind, has been Pakistan’s most constant batter, offering stability at one down. Muneeba Ali will probably be anticipated to make sure stable begins, whereas Aliya Riaz and Fatima are entrusted with anchoring the center order and getting aggressive totals on the board.

The skipper will even shoulder the accountability of main the tempo assault alongside Diana Baig, aiming to strike early and set the tone. Spin will stay Pakistan’s energy, led by left-arm orthodox spinner Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal, whereas Rameen Shamim will help with off-spin.

Sidra Amin, the No. 3 batter and a pillar of the Pakistan facet, has been in glorious kind main as much as the World Cup. Third within the nation’s all-time ODI run record, she supplies consistency and stability, typically arising with match-defining contributions

What will profit Pakistan significantly is taking part in all seven of its group-stage matches in Colombo, permitting the crew to learn from the familiarity of pitch, bounce and boundary, and accustom itself to the subcontinental situations. Pakistan enters the event with a mix of youth and experience, although gaps stay within the decrease order and fielding. In reality, the crew’s catching success is a dismal 68.5 per cent since April 2022 — joint second-lowest among the many eight World Cup rivals — which may very well be the deciding think about high-stakes video games.

As the youngest ODI World Cup captain in Pakistan’s historical past, Fatima carries the accountability of translating potential into outcomes, whereas Pakistan goals to claim itself on the worldwide stage.

The squad: Fatima Sana (Capt.), Muneeba Ali (Vice-capt.), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Eyman Fatima, Nashra Sandhu, Natalia Parvaiz, Omaima Sohail, Rameen Shamim, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Shawaal Zulfiqar, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, and Syeda Aroob Shah.

Pakistan’s fixtures: Oct. 2: vs Bangladesh; Oct. 5: India; Oct. 8: Australia; Oct. 15: England; Oct. 18: New Zealand; Oct. 21: South Africa; Oct. 24: Sri Lanka. The crew will play all its matches in Colombo.

Published – September 22, 2025 11:41 pm IST