Fatima Sana Confident in Pakistan’s Chances for T20 World Cup 2024

New Delhi, India – Fatima Sana believes that the improved batting skills of her Pakistan team make them strong contenders for the T20 World Cup 2024 title. Earlier this month, Pakistan made headlines by posting their highest total in Women’s T20Is (181) in a win over South Africa, defending the score by 13 runs in Multan.

Over the past year, the team’s batting approach has evolved, leading to consistently higher scores. Sana is determined to maintain this aggressive style from the very first ball of the upcoming tournament. ‘We are aiming to bring a different and more fearless approach to the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup this year,’ Sana said in a column for the ICC Media Zone.

‘In the past, we’ve often struggled in the Powerplay, with early wickets falling, middle-order collapses, and a slow pace of runs leading to low totals. We’ve also found it difficult to chase targets above 120,’ she added. ‘We now understand how crucial it is to have positive intent, especially in the powerplay, to set the tone and post competitive scores.’

Sana herself exemplifies this aggressive batting approach, having made notable contributions in critical middle and death-over scenarios. She was dismissed only once in three innings, scoring 101 runs at a team-high strike rate of 157.81. ‘This year, Gull Feroza has been in good form, with some strong innings in the Asia Cup. Muneeba Ali, at the top of the order, also performed well in the recent series against South Africa,’ she noted.

With the ball, Pakistan boasts a mix of reliable spin and seam options. Spin duties are handled by Sadia Iqbal, Nashra Sundhu, and Nida Dar, backed by Syeda Arooba and Tuba Hassan. The fast-bowling lineup also remains strong. ‘Sadia Iqbal has been phenomenal in the last year. She’s currently ranked No.3 in the ICC T20 rankings, and Nashra Sundhu is also in the top 10,’ Fatima remarked.

‘In the fast-bowling department, Diana Baig’s experience will be a great asset. I’ll do my best, as always, to contribute with both bat and ball, and we also have Tasmia Rubab, a left-arm seamer, which gives us good variety,’ she added.

Despite not advancing far in the last six T20 World Cup campaigns, Pakistan’s recent victories against New Zealand and India in bilateral series have boosted their confidence. Sana believes her team is capable of reaching the knockout stages of the T20 World Cup. ‘This exciting mix of youth and experience has me really looking forward to seeing how it all comes together for Pakistan,’ Sana said.

As they head to the UAE, Sana has not set a specific objective but is confident in her team’s ability to overcome any opponent, fueled by the support from fans back home. ‘We aim to win as many as possible and see where that takes us. We know we have a tough group, including reigning champions Australia, but we’ve beaten teams like India and New Zealand recently, and playing against top sides boosts our confidence,’ she concluded.