Pakistan women need encouragement: Rasheed
Coach defends team after failure at Women’s World Twenty20.
The team, led by Sana Mir, claimed just a single victory (against Ireland) throughout their campaign as they lost to Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in the group stages. PHOTO: ICC/FILE
KARACHI:
Mohammad Hafeez had to resign from the T20 captaincy after Pakistan failed to enter the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 for the first time.
After Hafeez’s side failed, the Pakistan women’s team also ended their disappointing campaign — finishing seventh and hence failing to get direct berth for the 2016 Women’s World Twenty20.
The team, led by Sana Mir, claimed victory against Ireland in the main round, and bagged another one against Sri Lanka in the seventh-place playoff. However, they lost the rest of their matches two Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in the group stages.
However, according to chief coach Mohtashim Rasheed, the failure must not prompt calls for an overhaul like those being considered for the men’s side.
“It is unjustified to demand the same for the women’s team,” Rasheed told The Express Tribune.
“The challenges our women face are far more difficult to what the men have to confront. Women’s cricket has not flourished from the grassroot level.
“They lack experience of domestic cricket because a proper system is yet to be established.”
However, Rasheed, a former first-class cricketer said he was not utterly disappointed with the finish.
“I feel that the performance was not that bad and progress will continue. Unfortunately, we were playing in unfamiliar conditions because of which we struggled.”
‘No replacements for senior players’
Rasheed felt that it would be tough to make drastic changes in the women’s squad.
“There is a vast difference in the quality of upcoming women players and senior cricketers,” he said.
“In order to achieve an overhaul, this gap needs to be narrowed because at the movement, there is a complete mismatch.”
Need for separate teams: Mir
Pakistan women’s captain, Sana, will not make any abrupt decisions on captaincy.
“I will consult the women’s wing officials and my teammates before resigning,” said Sana, before saying that it was unfair to compare the side with the men’s team.
Expressing regret on the overall performance, the senior all-rounder urged for separate teams for ODIs and T20s.
She also called for the uplifting of women’s cricket from the grassroot level.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2014.
Mohammad Hafeez had to resign from the T20 captaincy after Pakistan failed to enter the semi-finals of the World Twenty20 for the first time.
After Hafeez’s side failed, the Pakistan women’s team also ended their disappointing campaign — finishing seventh and hence failing to get direct berth for the 2016 Women’s World Twenty20.
The team, led by Sana Mir, claimed victory against Ireland in the main round, and bagged another one against Sri Lanka in the seventh-place playoff. However, they lost the rest of their matches two Australia, South Africa and New Zealand in the group stages.
However, according to chief coach Mohtashim Rasheed, the failure must not prompt calls for an overhaul like those being considered for the men’s side.
“It is unjustified to demand the same for the women’s team,” Rasheed told The Express Tribune.
“The challenges our women face are far more difficult to what the men have to confront. Women’s cricket has not flourished from the grassroot level.
“They lack experience of domestic cricket because a proper system is yet to be established.”
However, Rasheed, a former first-class cricketer said he was not utterly disappointed with the finish.
“I feel that the performance was not that bad and progress will continue. Unfortunately, we were playing in unfamiliar conditions because of which we struggled.”
‘No replacements for senior players’
Rasheed felt that it would be tough to make drastic changes in the women’s squad.
“There is a vast difference in the quality of upcoming women players and senior cricketers,” he said.
“In order to achieve an overhaul, this gap needs to be narrowed because at the movement, there is a complete mismatch.”
Need for separate teams: Mir
Pakistan women’s captain, Sana, will not make any abrupt decisions on captaincy.
“I will consult the women’s wing officials and my teammates before resigning,” said Sana, before saying that it was unfair to compare the side with the men’s team.
Expressing regret on the overall performance, the senior all-rounder urged for separate teams for ODIs and T20s.
She also called for the uplifting of women’s cricket from the grassroot level.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 7th, 2014.