KARACHI: Pakistan’s 18-member squad for the upcoming ICC Women’s World Cup will depart for New Zealand tonight.

The world-cup bound Pakistan’s squad will leave for New Zealand in the early hours tonight, all the squad members and officials have tested negative for the COVID-19.

The team will reach Auckland first, and will then travel to Christchurch via chartered flight and will then have to undergo a mandatory 10-days isolation period.

Following the departure, the captain of the Pakistan Women’s cricket team – Bismah Maroof talked to the presser and expressed hope to qualify for the semi-final of the mega event.

“We have worked really hard in the training camp. The effort is to reach the semi-final of the event,” she said.

Bismah also shared her views on the opening match of the green shirts against the arch-rival India and said the team will take the field with a different mindset.

“We have to play well from the first match in this type of tournament. Our first match is against India and we will play with a different mindset,” she said.

Bismah also claimed that the team is currently in the good form, while also admitted that the conditions are different in New Zealand.

“Our team is currently in good form and is doing really well. The team has improved a lot in my absence,” she said.

“Conditions in New Zealand are different, but we will try to adjust accordingly,” she added.

Bismah also termed bowling as the strength of the side and is hopeful that the bowlers would do well for the team in the global event. Whereas, she also admitted that the side lacks options for the wicket-keeper and urged to develop more wicket-keepers in the future.

The returning captain went on to add that all the players have been informed about their roles and it may help the team to perform well in the upcoming world cup.

It is worth mentioning here that the upcoming Women’s World Cup 2022, will kick off on March 4 with the hosts New Zealand taking on the West Indies in the curtain-raiser, while the final of the event will be played at Hagley Oval on April 3.

PAKISTAN SQUAD

Bismah Maroof (c), Nida Dar, Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Javeria Khan, Muneeba Ali, Nahida Khan, Nashra Sandhu, Omaima Sohail, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz

Travelling reserves: Iram Javed, Najiha Alvi, Tuba Hasan

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