THE Pakistan women’s cricket team is heading to next month’s T20 World Cup without winning a series in the game’s shortest format this year. But, as the recent 2-1 loss in the three-game rubber against South Africa showed, there are some bright signs that the team can push itself further at the tournament in the UAE. Having lost the opener by 10 runs, Pakistan rebounded with a 13-run victory to set a series decider against the South Africans, who clinched it with an eight-wicket win in the third game. All games were played in Multan. Under Fatima Sana — Pakistan’s third captain in 18 months since the last T20 World Cup — the players had their moments against the South Africans. Chasing 133 to win in the opening fixture, Pakistan were 47-5 before Fatima and Aliya Riaz brought them close with an unbroken 75-run partnership for the sixth wicket. Fatima contributed again with the bat as Pakistan rallied to win the second game, but fielding lapses in the final match cost the side. Annerie Dercksen made the most of it after being dropped on seven to guide the visitors to victory.

South Africa’s triumph means Pakistan have lost all three bilateral series they played since they won in New Zealand last year. Since the turn of this year, Pakistan have won just four out of 15 T20s — two of them against minnows UAE and Nepal at the Asia Cup, where they lost in the semi-finals to Sri Lanka. Fatima, however, seemed pleased with her batters’ performance against South Africa, but wants improvement in the fielding. She hopes the confidence gained will help the team, but admitted Pakistan will face a tall challenge at the World Cup, where they have only won one match each in the last three editions. The hope is that warm-ups against Scotland and Bangladesh will fine-tune Pakistan’s preparations before they open their World Cup campaign against Sri Lanka on Oct 3.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2024