Lahore November 22, 2011: Pakistan women team entered into the semifinal of ICC Women’s World Cup Qualifier after beating the Netherlands by 193 runs in the quarterfinals being played at Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Fatullah Dhaka. With this victory Pakistan Women team qualified for the ICC Women’s World Cup 2013 scheduled in India and for ICC T20 Championship scheduled to be played in 2012 in Sri Lanka.
Pakistan women’s Team won the toss & bat first Pakistan Women 277-4 in 50 overs, Javeria Khan 67, Bismah Maroof 66 not out, Nida Dar 57 & Sana Mir 49, E Lanser took 2 wickets, Netherland in response were 84 runs all out in 37 overs, Bismah Maroof and Nida Dar took 3 wickets each. Player of the match Bismah Maroof (Pakistan Women)
On this marvelous achievement of the Women Team, the Chairman, PCB (Ch. Zaka Ashraf) and the Chairperson Women Wing, PCB (Mrs. Bushra Aitzaz) have congratulated the team and have praised their performance whole heartedly.
Information for the Reporters/Editors
In 2008, Pakistan team had to participate in the ICC Women World Cup Qualifiers which were held in South Africa and after the event the team qualified for the ICC Women World Cup which was held in Australia in 2009; therein the team played exceptionally well and made its presence felt and proceeded to the super sixes stage. In this Event team improved their ranking from no. 10th to no. 6th in the world.
After the ICC Women World Cup, 2009 and the (2) ICC World T20s, the International Cricket Council decided that instead of six teams, only the top four teams will qualify for the next ICC Women World Cup to be held in India in 2013. In reference to this, the ICC introduced another ranking tournament i.e. (ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge) in 2010 wherein Pakistan Team also participated but unfortunately the team’s ranking deteriorated from no. 6th to no. 8th in the world.
The ICC Women World Cup Qualifiers, 2011 being held in Bangladesh was very crucial for the future of Women Cricket in Pakistan as in this tournament the fate of the team had to be decided. Furthermore all the teams ranked 5th – 10th are participating in this Event including the Asian Cricket Council teams which have done well in the past in ACC tournaments.
It is pertinent to mention that although West Indies and Sri Lanka are the participants of the captioned tournament but they have already qualified for the ICC World T20, 2012 to be held in Sri Lanka because (West Indies topped the ICC Women’s Cricket Challenge tournament and Sri Lanka got the automatic qualification as of the hosting right of the ICC World T20, 2012).
In view of the above, Pakistan Women Team have worked very hard as they knew the importance of this Event which would decide their future. Under the dynamic leadership of the current Chairperson Mrs. Bushra Aitzaz and the full fledged support of the Pakistan Cricket Board, the current Pakistan Women Team achieved another hallmark and historic feat by qualifying for the ICC Women World Cup, 2013 and for the ICC World T20, 2012.
