7 March - Tauranga - Pakistan player Nida Dar pre-match press conference

Reporter: To look back at your last game at the same ground. There were times where you were on top against India, only to fall away - what were the lessons when you guys spoke after the game about how to approach this game tomorrow?

Nida: Of course we're not happy with the results of the last match but a lot of things we have learned from yesterdays match - and I think so the key is we cannot repeat the mistakes that we’ve done. And the thing is – bowlers were doing well, but at the back end we didn’t do well – and learning from us. So hopefully as a team, we can do well, in the next matches.

Reporter: You’ve played in the Women’s Big Bash in Australia a few years ago, any learnings or lessons that you've learned from playing the players back in Australia that you'll be hoping to take into this match tomorrow?

Nida: Yeah It was a very good learning from Big Bash of course, playing with the teammates and playing with Australia especially in a very big league - is something very - you can say very honorable for me that I was going over there and learnt a lot of things. But the other thing is - I have learned a lot of game strategies, because the wickets are very changed in Australia and similar to New Zealand. And actually, I got that experience from Australia and that's very, you know, profitable for me.

Reporter: How have you found the surface here at the Oval - Have you found it useful to spin?

Nida: Yeah, the surface has changed the batting from Pakistan but yeah, we have to adjust early and we had a small camp before we came here in Karachi and after that we practiced here Yeah, it's good for spin - what we learnt from yesterday's wicket – it’s a good wicket for the spinners and of course for the fast bowlers here - but of course we love to play here and especially in the World Cup. So big challenge to play here and hope we can do well.

Reporter: How do you look at preparing to play Australia who are one of the best teams in the world? How do you get yourself ready for that?

Nida: Of course, going up against the best out of the teams of course and we know that Australia is a very big, very good side. I mean it is a strong side but the thing is, we have to come stronger against them and the thing is - what we have planned for us - we should execute them well.

Reporter: And I think you would have played alongside Rachael Haynes at the Sydney Thunder, and you think you're very keen to get her out maybe?

Nida: Of course, she knows me very well - because I've worked for her, and under her – of course she knows me very well, but yeah, I have my own plans for her.

Reporter: I just wondered this International Women's Day tomorrow. Just wondering, coming from a traditional Muslim country, if you could just talk us through the development of women's cricket in Pakistan and the how it compares from when you first started off, how you got into cricket. How your development went compared to how it is today?

Nida: Yeah, when I started - very early days in Pakistan it was like 25 to 30 girls in Pakistan who were playing at that time but yeah, that passion actually builds us and of course after that they've watched a lot of games of us and we bring a lot of joy for them. So yeah, if we compare it from then and now - Of course, the girls are very interested in Pakistan and especially they want to play cricket, and we inspired them a lot. So of course now, a lot of cricket in Pakistan for girls and a lot of facilities that PCB gave - a lot of chances for the girls. So yeah, it has been changed now.

Reporter: Just wanted to clarify. It was only 25 or 30. You were only aware of 25 or 30 girls playing cricket competitively in Pakistan?

Nida: Yes you can say it's not more than 25- 30 girls when I started playing, because those girls actually were in Pakistan team and in domestic also but yeah, after when I started playing after two or three years, that grew up into like 100 girls, and now we're watching a lot of girls playing cricket and especially in domestic from districts, from regions. So that yeah, that brings a lot of cricket in Pakistan.

Reporter: I know your immediate focus is on the here and now in the World Cup, but we’ve got the Australian Men’s team currently in Pakistan – and as this is an Australia – Pakistan match I thought it would b a good time to ask – are you hoping that the Women’s team – also gets to host the Australian women’s team in the not too distant future.

Nida: Of course, after Men’s touring Pakistan, we’re expecting women’s also to go to Pakistan, it’s a lovely ground there and Australia must come to play there.

Reporter: Nida, I have two questions regarding yesterdays as well as tomorrows match. First question is that your first two overs in yesterday’s match did not go well. However, you made a superb comeback and bowled very well. We have seen it couple of times that even after an initial bad spell, you can make a good comeback. I want to know about your this attitude and how things were different for you yesterday. Second question is that, we have seen in the tournament so far that pitch is helping spinners. Are you planning to attack against Australia with spin?

Nida: Since I started my career, I always tried to give my best. Yesterday in my initial spell, when I started bowling, I had to push against wind which was resulting into more pace than spin. That’s why my first two overs did not go well. As a senior bowler, I always tried to perform well for my team. I preplanned my strategy and made comeback. I got two wickets in my second spell. Anyhow, I am not much happy with my performance yet. Because I try to contain always but yesterday I could not execute it. In next matches I will try to execute it well.

Reporter: Nida can you please share the team batting plan and in which batting areas, you people are working.

Nida: Overall we have very experienced players. Javeria is top scorer from Pakistan. Sidra Amin have recently performed very well. Me and Alia are working on batting line up since last two years and are performing well. Batting combination of team is good however, we need to bat deep and take responsibility. Off course, there were some collapses yesterday but for upcoming matches, we have made a solid batting plan and will try to execute well.

Reporter; Nida, Sana Mir is also in New Zealand. Did you people had a chat with her after match to make improvements?

Nida: We had chat with her a little bit, before match. She always has guided us. After match, we did not have any meeting with her. We often do discuss things with her and she always bring positives in our team. We will off course have meeting with her again and will learn from her experience.

Reporter: Beth recently did a presser and told that their top six batters are preparing well against your spinners. On Sunday against India, your spin department performed very well. What’s difference between Australian and Pakistani spinners according to you. How you are planning to challenge Australian batters especially top two in next two matches.

Nida: See, we don’t do comparisons. We just try to focus on our game and give our best. We must be clear about our plans. Pakistani spin department always go for wickets as well as try to contain. Against top batters, we have planned to bowl well and go for early wickets. We know Australia is a strong side and their players love attacking game. So, we are planning to have a strong side against them.

Reporter: Before match against India, our all players were practicing in national jersey. So was it planned? Please comment on it.

Nida: I don’t think so we were wearing playing kits during practice session. I was also in practice session and still I am wearing training kit. It might be possible that someone may be in sweater as iit was windy yesterday. Whenever, we do practice, we wear practice kit.

Reporter: After match, Indian team was having discussion with Bisma and others. So can you please tell us that what sort of discussion was going on between them about match?

Nida: See, we played very few matches against India. However, whenever we meet each other we always had good time. Many Indian players are friends with Pakistani players. We always had good terms. Match has its own importance but we do value our friendships. It felt good when Indian team approached us and we all had fun time with daughter of Bisma. We enjoyed it very much.

Reporter: That will be it from today’s press conference.