Fatima Sana lauds ICC for evolution of women cricket in Pakistan

LAHORE, Jun 07 (APP): Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has lauded the International Cricket Council (ICC) for helping the evolution of women’s cricket in Pakistan.

“If we play good cricket in this tournament, I think in Pakistan, people will be supporting us,” Sana said while speaking at the Captains’ Carnival in London on Sunday.

“I think the ICC takes a lot of initiative about women’s cricket, so everyone knows about the game in Pakistan.

“And finally, we got the chance to host the next World Cup in Pakistan, so that’s also a good thing, so I think a lot really depends on this tournament.”

The build-up to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup changed gears with a spectacular Captains’ Carnival in London ahead of the tournament opener on 12 June.

Following the extravaganza, captains of all 12 teams weighed in on several aspects of the game in relation to the 10th edition of the Women’s T20 World Cup.

For Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty, the tournament presents an opportunity to keep elevating the growth of women’s cricket in Bangladesh.

“Women’s cricket in Bangladesh is growing really fast as we have been playing through the years,” she said.

“It has actually inspired a lot of young players back home and looking forward for this T20 World Cup, I think we have a very good chance to play in this group.”

Bangladesh are slotted in Group 1 of the tournament alongside six-time winners Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan and the Netherlands.

Also in the group are the Dutch, who are set to play in their first-ever Women’s T20 World Cup and know what is at stake in the upcoming tournament.

It is really cool to be here for our first time,” captain Babette De Leede said.

“We’ve never been to a T20 World Cup and we hope to inspire a lot of girls back home and especially because it (the tournament) is so close to our home country. We expect a lot of people (showing up at the games) as well.”

The Dutch had secured qualification via the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifiers earlier this year.

“We basically had a dream start to our World Cup Qualifier campaign, winning our first five games, so we automatically qualified. After five games with two left to play, which was quite special.

“That means a lot to us, like there were a lot of tears, a lot of smiles, a lot of emotions, and a lot of celebrations.”

Among the favourites in the group are South Africa, who finished runner-up in the last two editions of the tournament.

Strengthening their case at this T20 World Cup are returning stalwarts Shabnim Ismail and Dane van Niekerk.

“I think they are both obviously super experienced and have played in England,” skipper Laura Wolvaardt said.

“They have a lot of knowledge of conditions over here, and I think someone like Shabs, since she retired, we’ve sort of been lacking that really fast baller in our lineup and someone who can make a bit of an impact throughout the game. So, yeah, I think it’s sort of a no-brainer bringing her back.

“Same with Dane. I think she’s also been playing cricket. She still offers so much from a leadership point of view as well, and you can help me out with a lot of captaincy stuff too.

“It’s great having them both back. And, and hopefully, we’re able to go one step further this time.”

Challenging them for the top spot will be India, the reigning ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup winners, who beat South Africa to clinch the title last year.

India captain Harmanpreet Kaur recalled the triumph of last year that helped take the popularity of her team to even greater heights back home.

“We have seen that during last year’s World Cup when we won. After that, we have seen massive change,” she noted.

“Many girls, they’re coming to play cricket, and I think when we do well a lot of things change, and hopefully, we play our best cricket and try to make impact on women’s cricket.”

Six-time holders of the trophy, Australia, are no strangers to winning the competition but skipper Sophie Molineux knows that there will be multiple contenders vying for the title, starting from the defending champions New Zealand.

“The New Zealand girls are in great shape,” she said. “I saw that they made 200-odd yesterday (in the warm-up match against Bangladesh). They are always a really competitive team whenever you come up against them, especially in tournament play.

“They always lift big in tournaments. So, if we were to come up against them, I’m sure it would be a really close game.”

After missing out on the 2024 edition, Ireland have gone from strength to strength and arrive at this year’s tournament with renewed confidence.

Captain Gaby Lewis believes the progress made over the past two years has prepared her side to compete with the world’s best, and she is backing Ireland to make history by registering their first-ever victory at a T20 World Cup this summer.

“It’s so good to be back. It makes you cherish the experience a lot more,” she said.

“There was huge devastation after that, but it made it even more special qualifying in Nepal and there is massive excitement around the group.”

Having established themselves as regular participants on the global stage, Scotland arrive at the tournament with growing expectations. Captain Kathryn Bryce acknowledges that those expectations have risen following the team’s recent progress, but believes it is a challenge the squad is ready to embrace.

“I think it’s important to acknowledge the change in expectations, but I think with that comes different feelings and pressures on yourself,” Bryce said.

And obviously, we’ve had recent success against Ireland, but kind of everyone has got such high quality, within their team, so you just kind of got to focu,s on yourself, your own processes that you you turn up, and apply the way that you want to play and go out there kind of knowing that you’ve done everything that you want to do in in the way that you want to do.”

Defending champions New Zealand head into the tournament carrying the expectations that come with being title holders, but captain Melie Kerr and her side are embracing the challenge rather than viewing it as added pressure.

“There’s a lot of chat around defending your title and things like that, but I think for us, that was two years ago, and a lot’s changed. We’ve got a slightly different side, a different group, but I think one thing about us having won two years ago is knowing that we can do it,” Kerr said.

“I think that gives you belief that we can win, when we are put under pressure on the bigger stage. So, yeah, hopefully for us, knowing that whether things start good or bad, we have the belief that we can win from whatever position we are in.”

Chamari Athapaththu believes her young Sri Lanka team has what it takes to make an impact at the tournament. While the side may lack experience compared to some of the more established teams, Athapaththu is confident that the group is packed with talent and capable of challenging the best.

“We are going with a young fast bowling attack. We have a good few youngsters and we bring some good batters and some of them are in good form. So, I hope they will play their best cricket this summer in England,” she said.

“Cricket is a very funny game. This T20 format is very funny, so on the particular day, the team that plays the best cricket will win, so I know England is hosting this World Cup, and they know this condition better than everyone. So it’s a big challenge, so I love that challenge.

Hayley Matthews was named Player of the Match in the final when the West Indies lifted their only T20 World Cup title a decade ago. Reflecting on that triumph, Matthews believes the game has evolved significantly since then, with aggressive and fearless cricket the norm today in T20 cricket.

“I think the game has definitely grown a lot since then. But look as a group we’ve got a lot of new players in, a lot of young players in as well, and it’s going to take a fearless brand of cricket,” Matthews said.

“Think when you look at the women’s game nowadays. I certainly feel like a lot of records are going to be broken this tournament. Yeah, you’re gonna have to play a very fearless brand to be able to compete here.”

England skipper Nat Sciver-Brunt highlighted how the time is perfect to be hosting a World Cup, but acknowledged the pressure that comes with being the host nation.

“I guess the state of women’s sport in England is that it’s a perfect time to host a T20 World Cup. And hopefully, yeah, we can drag the fans along with us, inspire as many people as we can along the way and yeah, I suppose, have a great summer,” she said.

“Yeah, there’s lots of pressure, obviously being the host nation of a cricket tournament. I guess being part of three huge sports in England, for women, also England haven’t lost a host T20 World Cup before, there’s loads of pressure, it will be silly not to acknowledge that.”

England will be in action on the opening day of the T20 World Cup against Sri Lanka on 12 June at Edgbaston.