26 March - Christchurch - Pakistan Captain Bismah Maroof post-match press conference

Reporter: What were your thoughts on the performance? Were you disappointed to kind of get a little bit closer off the bat in the second innings?

Bismah: Yeah, I think we gave away too many runs in the field as well. We got opportunities but we didn't grab and I think while chasing, the set batters got out, I think that caused us - and if you could have set batter squad till the end, I think we could have a chance to finish it.

Reporter: What do you think overall from this tournament for Pakistan. Are you happy with how the team performed in the tournament?

Bismah: Its disappointed. The result we wanted, it's not there. So of course, it hurts us and two very close games we should have won. And I think West Indies game was good – Nida’s century and of course the performance of two matches, that was positive for us.

Reporter: How disappointing was it late in the innings from New Zealand? You sort of got some good late wickets with those run outs and the obviously Frankie and Katie got those, it was really tough, the last two overs which really pushed that total up.

Bismah: Yeah, we gave away runs and I think we could have bowled much better in that phase, and if we could have grabbed that run out chance I think that might - we could have restrict them under 240.

Reporter: Just last question for me, looks like New Zealand have been eliminated. Are you surprised they haven't made the semifinals here at home in New Zealand?

Bismah: Not really. I think they are a good side and you know, in a tournament, in cricket it can happen and I think the way they have played and I think they are a good team and they have shown today as well in their full crowds.

Reporter: Nida was again impressive today. She's the first Pakistani woman to score two 50s In one World Cup. Just a bit on her performance today but also across the whole tournament.

Bismah: Definitely she is senior too, and she has taken the responsibility and how she has performed you know, good to see from her, especially in the bowling in the first phase of the matches she hasn't performed well with the ball and she was a bit concerned as well and we have talked with her and how she has backed herself in the coming matches and performed - that's good to see.

Reporter: And you talked there about the tournament being slightly disappointing and not what you wanted, but what are the biggest things that you'll take away from it?

Bismah: I think the approach as a team how - especially in batting, how we approach and the intent should be there to score runs and of course, all over the world the cricket has changed. So we have to adapt to it and definitely it’s going to affect our performance when we go back.

Reporter: Obviously you will be very disappointed right now, being a captain, what do you think where do we need to work the most, and also tell us – do you think that you need to step down or you will carry on further?

Bismah: Yeah, I can’t comment upon the captaincy, that is the board’s decision and whatever decision they take it is up to them. They have made me the captain and I have proudly represented Pakistan in this tournament, even after Corona.

Secondly, on the key moments as a team I think we’ve had a lot of close matches, and we lost those key moments as a team. The main thing that we need to learn is how to turnover such pressure situations and definitely in the area of batting, our batting approach can be changed, we will work on that.

Reporter: Firstly, when things start going wrong, everything goes wrong. I have two small questions – first is by the body language of all the girls it wasn’t looking like they were playing united in the game. And secondly, in the entire tournament, we have played a lot of dot balls because of which we have faced a lot of loss, even in today’s match because of the dot balls our required run rate was going up, because of which the wickets were falling. So what do you think how much more work is needed to be done on this – on strike rotation?

Bismah: See, the body language as such I didn’t feel that we were not united. Of course we all are representing Pakistan and it is a big honor for all of us and our aim was that only that we represent Pakistan well and perform well. Yes, about when we need partnerships the situation is different, but overall the girls have put in their full effort.

And another thing, our wickets used to fall at very crucial times, which used to put us under a lot of pressure, because of which we needed to take the game deep – this is one reason.

Secondly definitely strike rotation is an area where we need to work hard once we go back and definitely every individual as a batter will work on this area and try to improve.

Reporter: When there was a match against New Zealand before the World Cup, Pakistan had won that, it was a historic win for Pakistan. Now today when you will go back, you will be a part of the next World Cup round championship. So what have you learnt from this World Cup and the close matches, that you will want to take further with you to achieve such historic wins

Bismah: See, the key moments are very important, when you have sensed that the game is at that point where you can turn it around in your favor and achieve your desired result, that is the situation that we as a team don’t respond well under pressure, we definitely need to work hard on that and secondly as I said, we need to change our batting approach, definitely when we will come back we will work on it and try to bring changes.

Reporter: Obviously the tournament maybe didn't go according to plan for you guys. But personally, you've been a huge inspiration to so many women around the world and especially to a lot of mothers. Can you tell us your experience of being at the World Cup and having a little one with you and just some insight into what that's been like?

Bismah: I think the love Fatima got, I was not expecting. I think she's very blessed and of course my mother is around me and I think that takes a lot of pressure off on me that she is with her and I can fully concentrate on my cricket and it's love that Fatima is here and she's witnessed the World Cup and the love she got definitely I'm very much thankful to everyone for.

Reporter: Just on the team as a whole. I mean you have been playing together as a group for quite some time. And I know beforehand, the expectation was that perhaps this group was now coming together. Where do you think you go from here. What are the goals for the next couple of years?

Bismah: I think individually, I think we need to take more responsibility and I think especially in batting unit, I think we have to be more brave and back ourselves and the plan we got, we should have the skill to execute. And that's an area I think that should be - we'll be looking for that in moving ahead.

Reporter: The other day you had said Muniba is a T20 specialist and that's why she played West Indies game and missed England game, but today it was a full 50 over game and she played, Can you talk about the decision behind her inclusion in today's game?

Bismah: I think it's not that she's a T20 specialist. Of course we have picked her in 50 overs matches. Well, it’s that Nahida and Sidra had scored in the last matches, so that's why we have backed them and other than its good that how Muniba has played and how – with the intent she has played is good to see and I know she has a talent and she will keep on improving and you know, it's good to be now in a situation that we have seen that she can hit hard and score quick runs for us.

Reporter: Also was Javeria fit to play or is she still suffering from a groin injury. That's why she missed most of the games?

Bismah: She was fit to play after I think two matches.

Reporter: I have a little personal question, but I want to know that Fatima has become so popular coming here, within 6 months – in a few years she is going to ask you that “mom, tell me the story of the World Cup” so Bismah, what is the story of this World Cup that you're going to tell your daughter a few years from now?

Bismah: Firstly we have made a lot of memories for her, and definitely the love that she's received, I have all that saved on social media, everyone’s comments and love for her. So definitely when she grows up that’s the first thing that I will show her – that this is all the love that you collected in the World Cup, and I think she must be proud about how she received so much love from everyone and that her mother is representing Pakistan – so definitely it will be an honor for her.

Reporter: My question to you is you've said a couple of things about how you know decision making has to improve, the batting has to improve those are the areas that you're looking for. How does that improve? So what goes into improving it? Will you need to play more international matches, or contracts in leagues? Domestic changes? There's talk about DSL also – so what exactly would you like to see changed and how will they come about, tell us about that.

Bismah: Yeah the more competitive cricket that we get, it will give us many more opportunities. We will improve our bench strength and the more that we play with foreign cricketers and the more that our girls go in leagues to play, the better will be the chances to improve.

See, as an individual we will definitely sit and discuss how we played this tournament and which are the areas that we need to improve on – mainly batting and as an individual how you should back yourself and implement on the ground – that is important.

Definitely we need some team planning also, and from the captain, the team management we need the confidence to implement that intent and plan.

Reporter: Fatima Sana has been a star performer for Pakistan, so do you think that the future of pace attack for Pakistan is secure?

Bismah: Yes, we are very happy to see Fatima, because we don’t have such a fast bowler in the team, and seeing her executing her skill – it feels very good to know that she is representing Pakistan and I think she is a key learner and I think she is improving her self-day by day which is good to see.

And we have a focus on fast bowlers, because Diana and Fatima are our only two fast bowlers and we haven’t seen anyone like them. So definitely we trying to motivate and work on our girls to increase their pace.