The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) will bring together the top 10 women’s cricket nations from around the globe, competing for the prestigious trophy from October 3 to 20. With 23 matches scheduled across two iconic venues, Dubai and Sharjah, the ninth edition promises high-octane action, with each team battling for supremacy. The tournament features 10 teams, split into two groups, each vying for a semi-final berth. The top two teams from each group will advance, making every group-stage match critical.

Qualified teams & title contenders

Australia, who enter the tournament as the defending champions, have been a formidable force in the format. Now led by Alyssa Healy after Meg Lanning’s retirement, they will be aiming for a seventh title. South Africa, last year’s finalists, are another strong contender, while England, the 2009 champions, are hungry for a second title.

India, under Harmanpreet Kaur, will be looking to improve after their semi-final exit in 2023, while former champions West Indies and two-time finalists New Zealand are also in the mix, having qualified by finishing third in their groups last year. The Sri Lanka and Scotland teams completed the list of participants by qualifying through the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier earlier this year.

Pakistan’s journey so far in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024

Pakistan finds themselves in Group A, a challenging pool that includes Australia, India, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Historically, Pakistan has struggled with consistency in this format, but they will look to rectify that and deliver stronger performances in this year’s World Cup. Pakistan’s performance in the Women’s T20 World Cup has seen a series of early exits over the years.

In 2009 (England), they were eliminated in the first round (R1), struggling to find their rhythm. The trend continued in 2010 (West Indies), 2012 (Sri Lanka), and 2014 (Bangladesh), where they faced early group-stage exits (R1) in each tournament. Despite some promising moments, they couldn’t break through in 2016 (India) and 2018 (West Indies), again falling short in the group stages (R1). The pattern repeated in 2020 (Australia) and 2023 (South Africa), with Pakistan exiting in the first round (R1) once more. Looking ahead to 2024 (England), Pakistan will aim to improve and break their cycle of early departures.

Also READ: 5 England players to watch out for in the Women’s T20 World Cup 2024 in UAE

Women’s T20 World Cup 2024: 5 Pakistan players to watch out for

1. Muneeba Ali

Muneeba Ali is expected to be a key player in Pakistan’s campaign. She has shown flashes of brilliance in her ability to dominate the powerplay, providing crucial starts for her team. Muneeba’s aggressive approach in the first few overs could give Pakistan the upper hand in setting competitive totals.

In 73 T20I matches, she has scored 1261 runs at an average of 19.40, including 2 half-centuries and one century. Muneeba’s capability to set a solid foundation in the powerplay can significantly influence the team’s performance. Previous World Cup Performance (2023): In the T20 World Cup 2023, Muneeba scored 122 runs in 4 matches at an average of 30.34, showcasing her potential in high-pressure situations but needing to convert starts into bigger scores.

2. Fatima Sana

Fatima Sana (Image Source: X)

Fatima has emerged as a leader for Pakistan, providing balance to the side with her calmness under pressure and ability to perform in critical moments. She can be pivotal with both bat and ball, especially in the death overs, where her ability to hit big shots and bowl yorkers is valuable.

Having played 43 T20I matches, she has scored 316 runs and taken 31 wickets, with a best bowling figure of 3/18. Fatima’s ability to perform under pressure makes her a crucial asset, particularly in tight situations. Previous World Cup Performance (2023): In her World Cup debut, Fatima took 4 wickets across 4 matches with an impressive economy rate, along with scoring valuable runs at critical moments.

3. Nida Dar

Nida Dar is one of Pakistan’s most experienced players, known for her excellent all-round capabilities as a spinner and a lower-order batter. In 156 T20I matches, she has scored 2,021 runs at an average of 17.88 and taken 143 wickets at an economy of 5.70. Nida’s experience and tactical skills are essential for controlling the middle overs.

Previous World Cup Performance (2023): Nida was pivotal in the 2023 edition, taking 5 wickets in 4 matches and contributing valuable runs when the team needed it the most.

4. Nashra Sandhu

Nashra Sandhu (Image Source: X)

Nashra Sandhu is a leading spinner for Pakistan, known for her exceptional control and ability to deceive batters. In 62 T20I matches, she has taken 60 wickets at an economy rate of 5.46. Nashra’s skill in maintaining pressure on opposing teams during the middle overs will be crucial for Pakistan’s bowling strategy.

Previous World Cup Performance (2023): In the 2023 T20 World Cup, Nashra took 7 wickets in 4 matches, showcasing her potential as a game-changing bowler in the group stages.

5. Aliya Riaz

Aliya Riaz has shown glimpses of her potential but has yet to fully deliver on the big stage. This World Cup presents her with the perfect opportunity to step up as a match-winner. Her ability to clear boundaries and add crucial runs in the middle order could be a game-changer for Pakistan.er

She has played 95 T20I matches, accumulating 1,112 runs at an average of 21.38. Although she has yet to fully realize her potential, her ability to accelerate the scoring in the latter stages of the innings could be pivotal for Pakistan. Previous World Cup Performance (2023): Aliya participated in the 2023 T20 World Cup, where she contributed with less runs than expected with total of 37 in 4 games but will be looking to elevate her performance in the upcoming tournament.

Also READ: Pakistan announces squad for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2024, names new captain

This article was first published at WomenCricket.com, a Cricket Times company.

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