Women cricketers aiming for optimum fitness

Captain looks forward to new season and series in Sri Lanka.

LAHORE:

The Pakistan women’s cricket team is gearing up for a hectic schedule which sees an action-packed calendar consisting of domestic as well as international fixtures.

Team captain Sana Mir has emphasised on the importance of physical fitness of the players as the team faces a grueling itinerary while talking highly of the the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) role in promoting the game in the country.

“Fitness is undoubtedly a key aspect,” Mir told The Express Tribune. “We are emphasising on fitness more than before as we’ll be playing a lot of 50-over cricket throughout the year. The PCB, meanwhile, has really backed the team, which has increased the profile of the women’s game in the country. Now the girls are working hard to be in good shape.”

The team’s physiotherapist Sunaina Munir echoed the view that with more international fixtures coming up, the team had started taking their fitness seriously.

“This year will see a lot of cricket which is a great incentive for the girls,” said Munir. “With regular international fixtures and the announcement of central contracts, the players have realised they can make a future out of the game. So they now work more on the fitness aspect.”

The team will be flying out to Sri Lanka to play a two-match One-Day Internationals series followed by a quadrangular tournament that will also feature the hosts, Ireland and the Netherlands. Pakistan then tour the West Indies and later take part in the World Cup qualifying tournament. Added to that is a prospective series with India that may take place later in the year.

KCCA protests Taj’s  exclusion

The Karachi City Cricket Association (KCCA) Zone VI Women’s Wing President Nasarullah Khan has blasted the women national selection committee over the exclusion of Sana Taj for the Sri Lankan tour.

Taj scored 246 runs in three matches at an average of 82 in the National Domestic Cup but was still overlooked for the national squad, prompting Khan’s objections. He blamed team manager Ayesha Ashar for the development.

“Sana’s performance was better than 95 per cent of the participants in the tournament,” said Khan.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 12^th,  2011.