Fatima Sana Rejoins Pakistan; Diana Baig Ruled Out of Crucial T20 World Cup Match
Pakistan captain Fatima Sana will rejoin her team in the UAE on Sunday for their must-win T20 World Cup game against New Zealand on Monday. Sana had left the squad on Thursday following the passing of her father and missed Friday's match against Australia, where Pakistan suffered a heavy nine-wicket defeat.
Pakistan remains in the hunt for the semifinals but must beat New Zealand convincingly and rely on other results, particularly India defeating Australia on Sunday, to stay in contention.
Adding to Pakistan’s challenges, senior seamer Diana Baig has been ruled out of the tournament due to a right calf muscle injury sustained in the opening game against Sri Lanka on October 3. She has been replaced in the squad by 21-year-old wicketkeeper-batter Najiha Alvi. Najiha, who last played internationally in May during Pakistan's tour of England, has featured in 12 ODIs and eight T20Is, scoring 14 runs in the shortest format across four innings.
Sana’s Impact and Team Struggles:
Sana, appointed captain in August, has been a key player for Pakistan. Despite batting as low as No. 7 in the first two matches, she holds Pakistan’s highest individual score of the tournament (30) and is their second-highest wicket-taker, with four scalps at an economy rate of 4.82. She has also played a vital role as an opening bowler.
Against Australia, Pakistan’s batting faltered significantly, with Aliya Riaz being the only player to cross 20 runs. They were bowled out for a tournament-low 82, leaving stand-in captain Muneeba Ali to face questions about their struggles.
Muneeba Addresses Challenges:
Muneeba admitted the batting lineup’s failure to adapt to conditions across three matches. "As a batting group, we need to step up and evaluate how to expand our scoring areas and refine our approach for the next match," she said.
Earlier in the tournament, Sana had defended her lower batting position as a team decision. Muneeba echoed this sentiment, emphasizing that the management, coach, and players collectively decide strategies. "We are a young team still developing. Leadership is new for many of us, and we rely on the management to support these decisions," she said.
As Pakistan prepares for the crucial clash against New Zealand, Sana’s return offers hope, but the team will need to improve their batting to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
Updated on 12th October, 2024