Pakistan captain Fatima Sana admitted her side couldn't nail the high pressure moments in their opening CWC25 game. And the stakes get even bigger on Sunday.
Pakistan fell victim to a high powered Bangladesh side, as the Tigers claimed an impressive victory to start their ICC Women's Cricket World Cup campaign on a high.
Pakistan collapsed to 129 all out in 38.3 overs after captain Fatima Sana chose to bat, with Marufa Akter striking twice in the opening over. Shorna Akter starred with 3 for 5, while Marufa and Nahida Akter picked up two wickets each.
In reply, Rubya Haider anchored the chase with an unbeaten 54, adding 62 with skipper Nigar Sultana (23). Sobhana Mostary’s brisk 24 ensured Bangladesh crossed the target in just 31.1 overs with 113 balls to spare.
The win gave Bangladesh their first points, while Pakistan were left searching for answers after a poor start.
It's back to the drawing board now for a Pakistan team that has to quickly put defeat behind them and set their sights on a huge clash with India this Sunday.
Captain Fatima Sana has confirmed her side will extract learnings from the pivotal moments in their first-up loss.
"Definitely," she said to media post-game.
"All the batters will sit together with our coach and make better plans. Obviously the way we got out today – on the first ball, second ball – we’ll spend more time discussing this. We’ll try to play the cricket we’ve been playing in the past. There are many girls who are playing such high-pressure matches for the first time, so we are facing some of those issues too, but we are trying our best to give our level best in the matches ahead."
Bangladesh's Marufa Akter earned Player of the Match honours for her devastating early bowling spell that put Pakistan's batting lineup under immediate stress. But Sana believes it was more a case of their own wrongdoing in those moments.
"Nothing was happening on the pitch in those early wickets – that was purely our batters’ mistakes, and hopefully they will minimise those mistakes," she continued.
"I think the pitch does support the fast bowlers, so Marufa got some help and, as you saw, every pacer got help from the pitch. That was the main thing. Hopefully we’ll execute our plans better in the next matches."
Marufa was still pinching herself post-game, having spent so much time before the World Cup visualising how she can impact games for Bangladesh.
"I'm so excited in this World Cup because this World Cup is my life in first time," said the 20-year-old.
"And two months ago, I always thinking, when I'm sleeping, always I'm thinking, first match, I do better. Always, and I'm the match-winner."
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty showered Marufa with praise post-game.
"Marufa is very young and mature," Sultana Joty said.
"She knows her role very well, and is very confident. How she delivered was incredible.
"We wanted to start with a win. It gives a momentum we can take into the rest of the tournament."
Cautious about handshake with India
Pakistan women’s team will cautiously monitor the situation as they expect India to repeat the ‘no handshake” policy in their highly anticipated match in Colombo on October 5, it was reported earlier.
India men’s team did not shake hands with Pakistan counterparts in all three matches of the Asia Cup and then refused to take the trophy from Asian Cricket Council President Mohsin Naqvi, also the interior minister of Pakistan.
On the other hand, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has not been making any effort to show grace.
A BCCI official had reportedly said that there is “no assurance” that India and Pakistan players will shake hands when the two sides meet during the Women’s World Cup on Sunday, according to the BBC.
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