- ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group B match to start at 9am (PST)
- “If we can replicate the performance we gave against West Indies we have a great chance of beating South Africa”, says all-rounder Aliya Riaz
- Urdu version of the media release is attached here
Karachi, 29 February 2020: Both Pakistan and South Africa have all to play for when they clash in the crucial ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Group B clash at the Sydney Showground Stadium on Sunday. South Africa are currently at the top of pool B with four points from two matches.
Opener Javeria Khan will lead the team tomorrow after regular captain Bismah Maroof was ruled out of the tournament after she fractured her right thumb in the game against England.
Pakistan have two points from two games (win against West Indies, defeat to England), a win tomorrow will give Pakistan a real shot at a semi-final spot considering their last match is against lowly Thailand. On the other hand a victory for South Africa will almost guarantee a semi-final spot for them.
The two teams competed in an enthralling five-match T20I series last year which was won by South Africa 3-2, with Pakistan winning the first and the third match of the series.
All-rounder Aliya Riaz who scored 41 off 33 balls in Pakistan’s 42-run defeat against England on Friday feels that her side has the capability of defeating South Africa, the recent results against them have given her hopes of a good performance.
Aliya Riaz said: “We were not up to our best against England but I feel we have a very good chance of doing well against South Africa. We played a very competitive series against them in their own backyard last year which gives us added confidence going into the game tomorrow.
“I felt I am in good batting form and enjoyed my innings against England albeit the result didn’t go in our favour. If we can replicate the performance we gave against West Indies we have a great chance of beating South Africa and improving our chances of a place in the semi-finals.”
Pakistan began their campaign in style on Wednesday when they defeated the West Indies by eight wickets at the Manuka Oval, Canberra. England defeated them in their second match on Friday which was played at the same venue.
Sunday’s Pakistan-South Africa match begins at 9:00 am PST.
Pakistan squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup:
Javeria Khan (captain), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Anam Amin, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Nawaz (wicketkeeper) and Syeda Aroob Shah
Officials: Syed Iqbal Imam (head coach), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach), Amir Iqbal (fielding coach), Gemaal Hussain (strength & conditioning coach), Dr Riffat Asghar Gill (physio), Aisha Jalil (team manager) and Zubair Ahmed (analyst).
Upcoming fixtures:
1 March – South Africa v Pakistan, 9am (PST)
3 March – Pakistan v Thailand, 9am (PST)
