Women's cricket now a mirror image of the men's game, says Urooj Mumtaz Khan

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Former Pakistan captain Urooj Mumtaz Khan feels women’s cricket is now more or less replicating the men’s game in terms of innovation and that the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 could determine the fortunes of many teams.

“Women’s cricket is now almost a mirror image of the men’s game,” she writes in an exclusive column for the International Cricket Council. “Earlier, women would not associate with their style but girls have realised that except for the size of the ball and the pace bowling in men’s cricket, most things can be replicated – like the ‘dilscoop’, reverse sweep and coming down the track to hit the ball over cover, or any other innovative shot.”

Urooj writes that “the ICC Women’s World T20 2018 will be a chance for most countries to make a mark on the biggest stage” and that it was important that Pakistan do well after not impressing in last year’s ICC Women’s World Cup 2017.

“It comes down to taking this opportunity as a challenge as I feel that we are a better unit for T20Is. Once we shine in the tournament, the sponsors will come in and domestic circuit will become more professional,” she writes.

Urooj, who is a member of the Pakistan Cricket Board’s cricket committee, feels increasing the player base is the only way to take women’s cricket to the next level in her country.

“In my opinion, the transformation is yet to happen among Pakistan cricketers because we are yet to identify and develop specialists for the different formats.

“This will only come with bench-strength and a wider pool of players. Countries like Australia, England and New Zealand have more competitive domestic cricket and that kind of competition is needed to improve our own player base. The Women’s Big Bash League and the ECB Super League are testaments of the face of modern-day cricket,” she writes.

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