For several years, the batting has been the problem for the women in green just like their men counterparts in the ongoing Asia Cup, the approach looked nice, more aggressive, and fearless.
Although Pakistan failed to cement the final spot in the Asia Cup, but they will be leaving the tournament with a bit “less concerns”
Gul Feroza was one of the positives that happened to Pakistan in this tournament. The batter became only the second Pakistani to score consecutive fifties in the Asia Cup, just after Bismah Maroof. She is the third-highest run-scorer in the ongoing edition of the Asia Cup.
She had a disappointing series against England, but management trusted her, and she undoubtedly showed potential and even in the semi-final, she was class apart in the powerplay, even at times outscoring her counterpart – Muneeba Ali.
However, her performance will leave the management in chaos – a positive chaos, since Sadaf Shams showed aggression against England, Sidra Amin has improved her game, Muneeba has been a vital cog, and Feroza was on song in the Asia Cup 2024.
The management has two months before they make up their minds with the openers as in October, we will watch a women’s T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.
Other positives were the batters – Fatima Sana and Tuba Hassan. Since her sudden and surprising retirement, the Pakistan team has failed to find the replacement of Ayesha Naseem.
Although both Fatima and Tuba cannot fill up the void, they give Pakistan luxury to play with the batting order. Not to forget Umm-e-Hani who wasn’t part of the ongoing Asia Cup but can bat and of course the leg-spinner, Syeda Aroob Shah, can bat as well.
Aroob was excellent with the ball too, especially against India as she took 2 wickets for 9 runs in 3 overs.
But a few concerns remain. A concern of not performing under the pump, a concern of not selecting and utilising the players aptly, a concern of bowling poor, and perhaps fielding poor too most of the time (though the team was on par with the catches against UAE and Nepal).
Nida Dar was one of the players who could not perform well with the bat and bowl, her form being affected off late. The comeback of Iram Javed wasn’t fruitful, and Nashra – Nashra Sandhu was the biggest disappointment in this tournament – as no one expected her to be this bad.
Over the years, she has been an impressive and impactful player but since the West Indies series her form is down the hill which is a big concern for Pakistan moving ahead and of course there’s a world cup as well.
She ended up giving 13 runs in the penultimate over against Sri Lanka in the semi-final of the Asia Cup, 2024 which was one of the reasons her slide lost.
It wasn’t a great tournament for the Pakistan’s lone T20 centurion Muneeba Ali, although she complimented her counterpart well, after Bismah’s retirement the expectations from Muneeba has been increased.
Nevertheless, there’s only one person who performs, on any occasion, under any conditions, against every opponent and she is Sadia Iqbal. The one who never disappoints, may she continue to shine!
