Women’s T20 WC 2023: Pakistan SWOT analysis
The eighth edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup is few days away and the excitement level is already high. While five-time champions Australia will be eyeing to defend the title and extend their winning streak to six. Hosts South Africa will be aiming to make the best out of the home grounds to win their first-ever T20World Cup.
The 10 participating teams will be competing in two groups of five each. With an aim to finish in the top two spots in their respective groups. Among the 10 participants, five teams have never made it to the finals, and one of those teams is Pakistan.
The Bismah Maroof-led side has never managed to make it big at the tournament. Their last international outing was against Australia in the build-up for the upcoming marquee event. They ended up losing both the T20I and the ODI series. Pakistan are placed alongside India, England West Indies and Ireland in Group 2. They will play their campaign opener against arch-rivals India.
SWOT analysis of Pakistan:
STRENGTH
The Pakistani squad will be banking upon skipper Bismah Maroof and seniors Nida Dar and Sidra Ameen’s experience. Though the Pakistani captain does not have many big achievements with the team, she has been brilliant with the bat. She is currently the leading run-scorer in the format for Pakistan. Having played international cricket since 2009, Maroof has 2560 T20I runs from 129 matches. On the other hand, Nida Dar’s is Pakistan’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20Is. She has 121 scalps to her name in as many games as Bismah Maroof.
WEAKNESS
Pakistan suffered a major blow when their pace sensation Diana Baig was ruled out of the tournament with a fractured index finger of her bowling hand, an injury she picked in the third ODI against Australia in January 2022. Instead of going with a like-to-like replacement, the Pakistan management opted to replace Baig with Sadaf Shamas to strengthen their batting unit and hence, the reserve bowlers did not get a chance. Baig’s absence will hurt Pakistan as they will now enter the tournament with a bowler short.
OPPORTUNITY
Sadaf Shamas got an opportunity to represent Pakistan at the World Cup ahead of fast bowler Kainat Imtiaz and leg-spinner Ghulam Fatima as she made it to the main roster, after being initially named a reserve player. Tuba Hasan will be playing her maiden T20 World Cup and has a big change ahead of her, while Sadia Iqbal has earned a place back on the side. The upcoming World Cup is an opportunity not just for the newcomers, but also for the mainstays to showcase what Pakistan can do on the big platform.
THREAT
Pakistan have never gone past the group stage in T20 World Cup, and are not considered as favourites. However, they cannot be underestimated, as they handed India a defeat in the Asia Cup last year. They also defeated West Indies at the ODI World Cup. Though have the ability to pull off a miracle again, they have strong opponents in their group, and tackling India, England, and West Indies will be a task.
Pakistan’s Squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Sadaf Shamas, Fatima Sana, Javeria Wadood, Muneeba Ali, Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz, Tuba Hassan.
