Pakistan Preview: Maroof challenges her team to reach the final four

Pakistan were given a timely boost ahead of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup 2022 with the return of Bismah Maroof, who will lead them in the tournament after her maternity break. She last played an international game in February 2020 while her last ODI came even further back in December 2019.

And the skipper has revealed that Pakistan are hopeful of making it to the final four, something the team hasn't achieved in their Women's ODI World Cup history.

However, their recent record isn't promising, with Pakistan winning seven and losing 15 matches since 2019. After recording a series win over West Indies in the UAE in February 2019, Pakistan women have lost ODI series against England, South Africa, West Indies (twice) and drawn series against Bangladesh and South Africa.

Unlike hosts New Zealand, India, Australia, England, and South Africa – teams qualified for the tournament based on the Women's Championship – Pakistan, alongside West Indies and Bangladesh, made it to the tournament based on ICC ODI Team Rankings after the 2021 Women's World Cup Qualifier was called off due to COVID-19.

THE SQUAD

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

THE FIXTURES

6 March – v India

8 March – v Australia

11 March – v South Africa

14 March – v Bangladesh

21 March – v West Indies

24 March – v England

26 March – v New Zealand

TOURNAMENT HISTORY

Best finish: Fifth (2009)

In 2009, Pakistan women produced their most memorable run at a Women's ODI World Cup, finishing fifth ahead of West Indies after making it to the Super Six from a group that included England, India and Sri Lanka.

While the tournament started with a 10-wicket humbling against India at the Bradman Oval in Bowral, Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by 57 runs to make it to the Super Six phase.

In the Super Six phase, Pakistan started off with a win against West Indies and, despite losing to Australia and New Zealand, they finished ahead of West Indies in a fifth-place finish.

LOOK OUT FOR

Diana Baig

Diana Baig, who has 24 wickets in 19 ODIs since 2019 at an average of 25.87 and an economy rate of 4.87, will be the key bowler for Pakistan in this tournament. The medium-pacer finished as the top wicket-taker in the 2021 ODI series against South Africa, taking nine wickets in three matches at an average of 13.22. Baig also played a key role in Pakistan's historic first series win over West Indies in the UAE in February 2019, picking up 3/42 in the series decider that Pakistan won by four wickets.

KEY PLAYER

Nida Dar

All-rounder Nida Dar is Pakistan's in-form batter heading into the Women's World Cup with four half-centuries in 2021. With 363 runs at an average of 45.37, Nida Dar played a handy role last year for Pakistan with the bat. Her 87 from No.6 in the Women's World Cup Qualifier against Bangladesh helped Pakistan to 201/7 from a precarious 49/5. She has also been tidy with the ball for a while now, with an economy rate under four runs per over since 2019 in ODIs.

BIG MATCH

India – 6 March

Pakistan's biggest game will be against arch-rivals India, who are one of the strongest teams on paper heading into the tournament. Pakistan have never beaten India in a Women's ODI, losing all 10 matches between the teams.

Pakistan's only two wins against India came in T20Is in 2012 and 2016. The one in 2016 came by a narrow two-run margin in the ICC Women's T20 World Cup. This time around Pakistan will bank on their experienced group of players to test India in their tournament opener on March 6.