Pak women players eye WC glory
Pakistan women's team booked a spot in the Cricket World Cup 2025 after a brilliant run in the Qualifier earlier this month.
While India is the official host of the upcoming tournament, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi has confirmed that the national women's team will not be traveling to the country.
"Pakistan's participation in the next global competition would adhere to the Fusion Formula [the same structure decided upon before the ICC Men's Champions Trophy 2025]," Mohsin Naqvi said.
Ahead of the World Cup 2025, Pakistan women's team player Aliya Riaz sat down with Sidra Amin and Shawaal Zulfiqar for a chat on the PCB podcast.
The trio discussed their qualification for the tournament set to be hosted by India and their preparation for it.
"Appearing in the World Cup is quite a challenge," Shawaal Zulfiqar said when asked about her preparation.
"Big teams appear in it. We've done camps, and we'll continue doing them. So we'll grow and it will be beneficial to us. We are hopeful of doing well," she added.
Sidra Amin emphasised the importance of preparation and adaptability to the conditions they would encounter in the tournament.
"We'll plan it series by series. The bigger an event, greater the pressure, so we'll work on things we can control. We are practising well, we'll bring an improvement on that. We have to adapt ourselves to the kind of wickets we have," she said.
The Pakistan women's team batter said that the side will plan with the idea that their games will be in Asian conditions in mind.
"So we'll have to plan our shots, rotation of strike accordingly," Sidra Amir added.
Sidra topped the batting charts for Pakistan in the ICC Women's CWC Qualifier 2025, scoring 225 runs from five matches at an average of 45, including three half-centuries.
Nida Dar opts out of cricket amid mental health struggles
Nida Dar of Pakistan during the 3rd Women's Metro Bank ODI between England and Pakistan at The Cloud County Ground on May 29, 2024 in Chelmsford, England. - AFP
Former Pakistan women's cricket team captain Nida Dar has announced a temporary break from cricket to focus on her mental health.
The seasoned all-rounder took to social media late Thursday to share her decision, citing the toll that recent personal and professional events have taken on her well-being.
"I would like to inform that alot of things have happened in the past with me personally and professionally and this has affected my mental health. For this reason I am taking a break for a while from cricket to focus on myself. Please respect the privacy. Thank you. #respect," Dar posted.
The 38-year-old has been a stalwart for Pakistan, featuring in 130 T20 Internationals and 99 One-Day Internationals. She was recently part of the training camp for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Faisalabad, having been included among the 19 shortlisted players.
However, despite returning to training, Dar was not selected in the final 15-member squad after failing to meet the required fitness standards.
Subsequently, she also opted out of the upcoming National T20 Cup, choosing instead to step away from competitive cricket altogether for the time being.
Meanwhile, the Pakistan women's team recently secured qualification for the upcoming ICC Women's World Cup, slated to take place in India later this year.
They concluded an impressive campaign at the ICC Women's World Cup Qualifier in Lahore with five consecutive victories, including a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh in their final match on April 19 at the Lahore City Cricket Association (LCCA) Ground.
Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Chairman Mohsin Naqvi praised the women's team for their successful campaign during a visit to the LCCA Ground.
However, he reiterated the PCB's stance that the national women's team will not travel to India for the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, aligning with the "hybrid model" that was implemented ahead of the ICC Men's Champions Trophy earlier this year.
"Pakistan will not travel to India, as this formula has already been agreed upon," Naqvi said during his visit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Express Tribune
5 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Brevis stars as SA level T20 series
Dewald Brevis belted South Africa's highest T20 individual score of 125 not out to propel them to a 53-run victory over Australia. Photo: AFP Dewald Brevis belted South Africa's highest Twenty20 individual score with a blistering 125 not out from 56 balls as the tourists stayed alive in the three-match series after a 53-run victory over Australia in Darwin on Tuesday. Australia's decision to bowl backfired as South Africa powered to a massive 218-7 on the back of Brevis' maiden century in international cricket. Brevis, who already holds the South African domestic record for the highest T20 score of 162, put on a mesmerising display in only his ninth T20I. He hit 12 fours and eight sixes for a total of 96 runs in boundaries and was excellent down the ground. More than half of his runs - 66 - were scored in the 'V', including six sixes and all but single-handedly built South Africa's total. Brevis, who was dropped on 56, scored 91 of the 126 in a fourth-wicket partnership with Tristan Stubbs. The 22-year-old rescued South Africa from a shaky 57-3 and dominated a 126-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs (31). "I'm extremely grateful, just happy to be out here on the winning side," said Brevis, who surpassed Faf du Plessis' 119 against the West Indies in 2015. Playing just his ninth T20 international, Brevis smashed eight sixes to leave Australia's powerful batting line-up with an uphill task. Australia's daunting chase was made more difficult after the early wickets of opener Travis Head (five) and Cameron Green (nine). Australia's hopes rested with in-form Tim David, fresh off his match-winning 83 in their 17-run victory in the series-opener at the same venue. Promoted to number four, David started with a trio of boundaries and then bludgeoned several massive sixes, including one that landed on the roof. But David's 24-ball assault ended on 50 when he hit spearhead Kagiso Rabada straight to cover. Australia's chase ran out of steam, bowled out for 165 in the 18th over with quicks Corbin Bosch and Kwena Maphaka picking up three wickets each. "Chasing that down was always going to be tough and we needed a few partnerships, which we couldn't do," Australia captain Mitchell Marsh said. Without several key batsmen for this tour, South Africa had struggled to fire in the opening game. Captain Aiden Markram signalled his intent with a sublime boundary off the first ball of the innings, rattling quick Josh Hazlewood. But Markram (18) fell tamely to a fired-up Glenn Maxwell, who celebrated another wicket when he had Lhuan-dre Pretorius (10) stumped to leave South Africa in trouble. Likened to legendary South Africa batsman AB de Villiers, Brevis turned the innings on its head to power past his previous highest T20 international score of 41. Brevis received a life on 56 when substitute fielder Matthew Kuhnemann fumbled on the boundary off the bowling of an increasingly frustrated Maxwell. Brevis made Australia pay and in a flash he was saluting the crowd after reaching his century with a boundary off his 41st delivery. Maxwell and quick Ben Dwarshuis picked up two wickets apiece in an unusually ragged effort in the field for Australia, whose nine-match T20 win streak ended. The series-decider will be played in the Queensland city of Cairns on Saturday.
Express Tribune
6 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Lloyd concerned over WTC tier plan
The West Indies' place in the World Test Championship (WTC) could be under threat if the International Cricket Council (ICC) goes ahead with plans for a two-tier system. Under the proposal, teams would be split into divisions based on performance, and with the Caribbean side finishing eighth out of nine in all three editions so far — and losing all three of their Tests in the current cycle to Australia — they risk being relegated to the lower tier. The possibility is one that stakeholders in West Indies cricket are taking seriously. Legendary former captain Clive Lloyd has voiced his concerns about "being in that group for a hundred years," while Cricket West Indies (CWI) officials are determined to ensure their voice is heard in the discussions. "All of that we have a role to play [in], we have a seat at the table at the ICC," CWI chief executive Chris Dehring said during a press conference after an emergency meeting in Trinidad on Sunday and Monday. The meeting followed West Indies' dramatic collapse for just 27 runs at Sabina Park against Australia. "We have to just stay abreast as close as possible to all the changes that could happen, position ourselves, hedging our bets so to speak, to make sure we are in there as West Indies cricket no matter which way the wind blows and try to take advantage of it." The ICC last month formed a working group, headed by former New Zealand batter Roger Twose, to explore ways to improve the WTC ahead of the 2025-2027 cycle. A two-tier system was a key point of discussion at the ICC's annual conference in July, with Twose expected to make recommendations to the board in due course. The idea of a two-division Test structure has been debated for over 15 years, with ICC members split on its merits. Lloyd, who joined other former greats such as Brian Lara and Viv Richards at the CWI meeting, stressed the need to address the ICC's revenue distribution model. He argued that the West Indies' historical contribution to the game should be acknowledged despite their recent decline. "We have to look at what's happening at the ICC with the shareout of the money. India, Australia and England get 180 million and West Indies will get 80 million like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, and we are just two years out of being in that group for 100 years," Lloyd said. "To me, it's not right. We have to stand up. We have to go to the ICC and ask for special dispensation. Because when we were in the ascendancy, and we were playing so well, everyone wanted to play with us. The two-time World Cup-winning captain also emphasised the importance of fair financial distribution in international cricket, highlighting the West Indies' role in generating significant revenue for the sport. "We were playing Australia very often, with England very often, and when we went to Pakistan or India, getting millions of people [to the grounds]. We need to get a better share of the pie, because we were the cash cows for a long time. And we need to get some of that. I am hoping the board follows up on that recommendation where we can be adequately given the money that is needed."
Express Tribune
10 hours ago
- Express Tribune
West Indies clinch first ODI series win over Pakistan since 1991
Mohammad Rizwan of Pakistan is bowled by Jayden Seales of West Indies during the 3rd and final ODI match between West Indies and Pakistan at Brian Lara Cricket Academy in Tarouba, Trinidad and Tobago, on August 12, 2025. Photo: AFP An inspired Jayden Seales led the West Indies to a crushing 202-run victory over Pakistan in the third and deciding one-day international in Trinidad on Tuesday. The fast bowler blew away the Pakistan top order en route to figures of 6-18 as the tourists were bundled out for just 92 in a chase of 295 to win. The Windies had reached 294-6 in their 50 overs batting first, powered by captain Shai Hope's brilliant unbeaten hundred. The Caribbean side sealed a much-needed first ODI series win against Pakistan since 1991, after being swept aside 3-0 and 5-0 in Test and T20 series respectively by Australia earlier in the summer. 'We stress on negatives a lot in West Indies,' said Hope. 'So many positives to shout about. Great to see the guys pulling off history. 'Seales is a quality bowler… He's a class act. Anything you ask him to do, he puts his hands up.' Pakistan's reply got off to a horrendous start as Seales removed Saim Ayub, Abdullah Shafique and Mohammad Rizwan inside the first three overs to reduce them to 8-3. Seales then trapped Babar Azam lbw for just nine to leave Pakistan's hopes of a 2-1 series win in tatters. 'Seales made it difficult for us. Done so throughout the series. But we lost three early wickets, that's what cost us,' said Pakistan skipper Rizwan. Left-arm spinner Gudakesh Motie took two wickets through the middle overs, before Seales returned to remove tailenders Hasan Ali and Naseem Shah and complete a six-fer. The hosts, who lost the opening game of the series, wrapped up the win when Pakistan number 11 Abrar Ahmed was run out by Roston Chase. Pakistan had started strongly with the ball after winning the toss and electing to field, as the West Indies struggled to find the boundary. The home side were 68-3 when Keacy Carty was dismissed lbw by Abrar for a 45-ball 17. The usually big-hitting Sherfane Rutherford also never got going and crawled to 15 from 40 deliveries before falling to Ayub. But Chase helped revive the innings with a quickfire 36, giving Hope some much-needed assistance. Chase was bowled by Naseem and Motie was caught and bowled by Mohammad Nawaz as the West Indies' batting effort threatened to peter out. But Hope and Justin Greaves plundered 110 runs from the final 8.1 overs in a blistering assault to get their team close to 300. Hope finished on 120 not out, with 10 fours and five sixes, completing his 18th one-day international century. He now sits behind only Brian Lara and Chris Gayle on the all-time list for most ODI tons for the Windies. Greaves more than played his part, clubbing an unbeaten 43 from just 24 balls.
