Pak women's team gear up for ICC T20 WC

Fatima Sana's charges take on SL today at Sharjah Cricket Stadium

DUBAI:

The ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024 will begin tomorrow in the UAE with 10 teams featuring in the 18-day tournament.

Pakistan women's team is slotted in Group 'A' alongside Australia, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. Bangladesh, England, Scotland, South Africa and the West Indies are in Group 'B'.

Pakistan women's team under the leadership of Fatima Sana will take on Sri Lanka in their opening match of the tournament tomorrow at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Pakistan will feature against arch-rivals India on 6 October at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium (DICS). Pakistan will then be in action against defending champions Australia on 11 October at the DICS, while their last group match will be against New Zealand on 14 October at the same venue.

As per the format of the tournament, top two sides from each group will qualify for the semi-finals set to take place on 17 and 18 October, while the winner of the tournament will be decided on 20 October. The first ball of the final, to take place at the DICS, is expected to be bowled at 6pm local time.

Pakistan have featured in two warm-up games against Scotland and Bangladesh prior to the start of the tournament and also took part in various practice sessions to acclimatise to the conditions.

Pakistan captain Fatima Sana sounded confident about her team's preparations and expressed her belief to do well in the tournament. She said: "We have prepared well for the mega event. The series against South Africa at home before coming to the UAE helped us know our strengths and allowed our batters to show their form.

"The two practice games have also helped us in assessing the conditions here and now has provided us with clarity regarding the right combination of players in the tournament."

15-member squad for the tournament

Fatima Sana (captain), Aliya Riaz, Diana Baig, Gull Feroza, Iram Javed, Muneeba Ali (wicket-keeper), Nashra Sundhu, Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Syeda Aroob Shah, Tasmia Rubab and Tuba

Player support personnel

Hina Munawar (manager), Muhammad Wasim (head coach), Junaid Khan (assistant coach – bowling), Hanif Malik (assistant coach – fielding), Abdul Rehman (spin bowling coach), Imran Khalil (strength and conditioning coach), Muhammad Rafiullah (media and digital manager), Rabia Siddiq (physiotherapist) and Waleed Ahmed (analyst).

Top spot in player rankings up for grabs at Women's T20 World Cup

The battle to reach the top of the ICC Women's T20I Player Rankings is closer than ever ahead of the ICC Women's T20 World Cup 2024.

The tournament gets underway on Thursday in the United Arab Emirates, with 10 countries battling it out to be crowned world champions on 20 October.

While full focus will be on powering their teams to glory, some players will also have their eyes on topping the ICC batting, bowling, and all-rounder rankings come the end of the month.Just 22 points currently separate the top five batters, with West Indies' Hayley Matthews leading the charge to become the first non-Australian in three years to reach the summit. She will have to get past Australia's Beth Mooney and Tahlia McGrath to do so, with Mooney currently leading the way on 757 points,

Matthews is a further two points behind with a career-high 746, with India's Smriti Mandhana also in contention on 743, while Laura Wolvaardt is not far behind on 735.

Big performances from any of the top five could shake up the individual standings with so little to choose between each player.

There are six countries represented in the top ten, with Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu just nine points off the 700-point barrier while New Zealand pair Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine are ninth and tenth respectively. Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana makes it seven countries in the top 13 batters; she is the first female Bangladesh batter to accrue over 600 points. The bowling rankings are similarly hotly contested, with just 12 points between first and fourth.England's Sophie Ecclestone leads the way with 757 points, but she is just two ahead of India's Deepti Sharma.

The top four are all spinners, with Pakistan's Sadia Iqbal on 750 points and England's Sarah Glenn a further five back on 745.