ISLAMABAD: The captain of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team Bismah Maroof is confident to put on a good show in the forthcoming tri-series in Ireland and Commonwealth Games as the side’s 10-day training concluded here.
Bismah-led Pakistan side will now depart for Belfast via Dubai on July 12 as the Green Shirts will take a two-day Eid Holidays tomorrow and on Monday.
The Pakistani contingent remained involved in various training sessions in the last nine-day period in Rawalpindi and Islamabad at the Pindi Cricket Stadium and House of Northern.
Despite the persistent rain in the region, the squad underwent indoor practice including improvised drills, nets sessions and scenario-based matches.
Besides batting and bowling drills, the Green Shirts also focused on fielding and physical fitness under the supervision of support staff, led by the head coach David Hemp.
Following their arduous training camp, captain Bismah is confident in her team’s ability to perform well against the formidable sides in the two important series despite persistent rain having hampered their preparations.
“Our preparations have suffered a bit due to the persistent rains as we could not play practice matches, we had to hence shift our focus to fitness more. We tried to make most of the indoor facility we were provided and that did come as a good help to the side amid the weather challenges,” Bismah stated.
“The tri-series in Ireland provides us a good opportunity of acclimatising to the conditions ahead of the Commonwealth Games. We have a good team combination with youngsters like Tuba Hassan, Ayesha Naseem and Fatima Sana providing real energy, skill and talent, they are the ones for the future and this tour is a real opportunity for them to make a big impression,” she added.
“At the Commonwealth Games, we would take on the challenge of playing formidable opponents as to succeed there we need to beat the big teams, our aim would be to target a victory,” she concluded.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan will play their first match of the tri-series against Australia on July 16. The side will play Australia and Ireland twice in the competition before the top two sides will go on to compete in the final.
The contingent will then fly to Birmingham to participate in the Commonwealth Games and will take on Barbados on July 29 to start their campaign before taking on the arch-rivals India on July 31 and Australia on August 3. All cricket matches of the Commonwealth Games will be staged at Edgbaston Stadium, Birmingham.
Squad: Bismah Maroof (captain), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Gul Feroza (wicketkeeper), Iram Javed, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (wicketkeeper), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal and Tuba Hassan.
Support staff: Ayesha Ashhar (Manager), David Hemp (Head coach), Saleem Jaffer (Bowling coach), Muhammad Zubair Ahmed (Analyst) and Rifat Asghar Gill (Physiotherapist).
Pakistan’s fixtures:
Tri-series at Belfast
16 July – v Australia
19 July – v Ireland
23 July – v Australia
24 July – v Ireland
Commonwealth Games at Birmingham
29 July – v Barbados
31 July – v India
3 August – v Australia
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