FOR Pakistan, the second round of the Women’s Twenty20 World Cup is the promised land. In the last seven editions, never have they gone beyond the first round and when they kick off their campaign against arch-rivals India today, it is that obstacle they are looking to cross. Despite losing pacer Diana Baig to injury, Pakistan are hoping they will play to their full potential in the tournament in South Africa. It is the game against India though that will set the momentum for Pakistan. Nevertheless, for a team that has a poor record at the World Cup, winning just seven out of 28 games, they have beaten India twice in the tournament — in 2012, and then four years later. Winning today could see Pakistan on their way to breaking the jinx. Speaking on Captains’ Day, Pakistan’s Bismah Maroof said she wanted her players to take the India game as any other but admitted that expectations were high. The last time the two sides met was at the 2022 Commonwealth Games where Pakistan suffered defeat.

Pakistan arrive at the T20 World Cup having lost a three-match series in Australia. Australia, the defending T20 World Cup champions, won the opening two games by eight wickets before the last game of the series was washed out. Since arriving in South Africa, Pakistan have recorded a win and a loss — both by six-wicket margins — in their warm-ups. Their victory against Bangladesh saw an inspired all-round performance by Nida Dar, one of the players Pakistan will be looking to during the World Cup. In the defeat to South Africa, Aliya Riaz shone with bat and ball. The two, alongside batters Bismah and Ayesha Naseem and fast bowler Fatima Sana will be key to Pakistan’s World Cup hopes. Bismah has been vocal about how Pakistan’s players have broken barriers to get where they are. Now is the time to shatter the glass ceiling at the World Cup.

Published in Dawn, February 12th, 2023