Cricket - Women
WCL 2023: One city, four teams, 13 matches in Rawalpindi
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Rawalpindi:-Four city-based sides, each comprising 12 local and six foreign players, will compete in the inaugural Women’s Cricket League (WCL) at Pindi Cricket Stadium, Pakistan Cricket Board revealed the details of event on Thursday.
The final will be a standalone fixture between the top-two sides following 12 league matches and will take place a day before the HBL PSL 8 final. The HBL PSL 8 is scheduled from 9 February to 19 March 2023.
PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja said:
“I am delighted to announce the women’s league. This league will attract young women cricketers to this great sport and help our current players further enhance their skills when they will get to share dug-outs with the overseas players. The league will feature present and past trailblazers in women’s cricket in what promises to be an exciting 13-match event.
“To amplify the coverage and promotion of this initiative, some of the matches will precede the HBL Pakistan Super League 8 matches.
“This event is aligned to our strategy of making Pakistan a stronger cricket playing nation across all formats and genders. We are not only creating attractive brands to strengthen our cricket economy, but through this tournament are also providing career opportunities to our women cricketers. The more our women cricketers will participate in high-pressure events, the more they will learn.
“The PCB is a strong proponent of empowering women to shine brighter. By engaging our women, which form 49 per cent of the country’s population, we will enhance the economic and social prosperity of our country.”
No change in ODI positions: South Africa overtake the West Indies in T20Is
Sports Bulletin Report
Dubai (UAE):-Australia have established a record margin at the top of the ICC Women’s ODI Team Rankings while also increasing their lead in the ICC Women’s T20I Team Rankings, after the annual update carried out on Saturday.
Australia have stretched their lead over South Africa from 48 to 51 rating points in the ODI rankings, which is the biggest lead ever by any international men’s or women’s side in any form of the game, while their lead over second-placed T20I team England has increased from 14 to 18 rating points.
There is no change of positions in the ODI rankings in the latest update, which expunges results from the 2018-19 season, weights the 2019-20 and 2020-2021 seasons at 50 per cent and the 2021-22 matches at 100 per cent.
Australia have gained three rating points and sit comfortably at 170, with South Africa (119), England (116), India (104) and New Zealand (101) the other teams holding three-figure rating points.
In T20Is, Australia are on 299 rating points, stretching their lead over second-placed England from 14 to 18 rating points. New Zealand and India maintain their third and fourth positions, while South Africa have overtaken the West Indies to fifth position.
In other notable movements, Tanzania and Nepal have progressed two slots each to reach 15th and 16th positions, respectively, Namibia have moved up from 21st to 17th and Hong Kong from 24th to 20th.
Jersey (up from 28th to 22nd), Italy (up from 38th to 28th) and Mozambique (up from 45th to 33rd) are some of the other big movers in the update.
Meanwhile, the number of ranked teams has fallen from 60 to 48 with eight teams not having played at all over the past three years and four others not meeting the requirement of six matches.
China, Fiji, Japan, Mali, Myanmar, Samoa, South Korea and Vanuatu have not played during this period while Indonesia, Mexico, Norway and Papua New Guinea (PNG) have played less than six matches.
ODIs (No change in rankings):
Ranking
Team
New Rating
Old Rating
Change
1
Australia
170
167
3
2
South Africa
119
119
0
3
England
117
116
1
4
India
104
103
1
5
New Zealand
101
98
3
6
West Indies
97
91
6
7
Bangladesh
78
78
0
8
Pakistan
59
65
6
9
Ireland
47
47
0
10
Sri Lanka
44
45
1
11
Zimbabwe
0
0
0
Bismah confident of a good show in ACC T20 Asia Cup 2022
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Lahore:-Pakistan women’s team will fly out from Lahore for Bangladesh via Dubai in the wee hours of 28 September to feature in ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup. The seven-team tournament will be played in Sylhet, Bangladesh from October 1, the final of the tournament will be played on 15 October.
The Bismah Maroof-led side had practiced and trained for 10 days at the Lahore Country Club, Muridke. The players went through rigorous nets sessions and scenario-based matches, besides undergoing bowling and batting drills.
Captain Bismah Maroof said:
“Our previous series didn’t go well, so we will try to rebuild our side and restart our winning streak. Our coaches have worked really hard on players in the camp and we will try to execute the practice in the matches in the tournament.
“The tournament format is such that it provides a number of matches to the players which will ultimately help us to get ourselves ready for next year’s World Cup. We will not be complacent, every team in the tournament will come fully prepared, and we will try to produce good results.
“Match against India is an important match, but before that we have other games. We will try to gain momentum in the tournament, and once it is with us, we will look forward to the game against India.”
Before the Muridke camp, right-arm pacer Fatima Sana was ruled out of the tournament due to ankle injury. When asked how much she will be missed in the tournament, Bismah replied, “Fatima has remained a vital part of the side, her absence is a setback for us, but at the same time it is a great opportunity for other players to step up and play a role in winning matches for the side.”
The seven-team tournament format is such that each team will play the other once before the top four sides qualifying for the semi-finals. The final of the tournament will be played on 15 October. Pakistan will play their opening match of the tournament against Malaysia at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium on 2 October. Pakistan will take on arch-rivals India on 7 October.
Pakistan Squad:
Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Nashra Sundhu, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hasan
Reserve players: Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani and Waheeda Akhtar
Support staff: Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach and interim head coach), Mauhtashim Rashid (fielding coach), Muhammad Zubair Ahmad (analyst) and Rifat Gill (physiotherapist).
Pakistan’s fixtures:
2 October – v Malaysia
3 October – v Bangladesh
6 October – v Thailand
7 October – v India
9 October – v UAE
11 October – v Sri Lanka
Bangladesh and Ireland qualify for ICC T20 World Cup 2023
SPORTS BULLETIN REPORT
Dubai (UAE):-Bangladesh and Ireland have qualified for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 in South Africa after winning their respective semi-finals at the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 supported by Dream 11, being played in Abu Dhabi.
Bangladesh completed a 11-run win over Thailand and Ireland beat Zimbabwe by four runs in matches played at the Zayed Cricket Stadium to book their berths, joining Australia, England, India, New Zealand, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, who have already made it to the 10-team tournament.
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty said: “We came here to qualify for the T20 World Cup, and we did it! We have been playing together for so many years, this is our time to show the world how good we are, how much we have improved as a side.
“There are a lot of experienced and talented players in our side, and we need to show the kind of potential we have. It was a little disappointing that we could not do well in batting today. But I was confident about my bowling side, and I am happy at the way we handled the pressure.”
Ireland captain Laura Delany said: “It (qualification) is massively important for the growth of the game in Ireland. We feel fortunate that Cricket Ireland have introduced full-time contracts and I think we are starting to see the benefit of that.
“It is a lot of relief that we won. They run us till the last ball, it was a very competitive game. We are thrilled to be there. We have tried to veer off from focusing on the World Cup. We weren’t successful last time so wanted to do things differently. We are proud to have got over the line today.
“We had a very good season, some brilliant wins against some tough sides. Qualifying for the World Cup is the next step in the journey, we will get to play against some better sides, hopefully on a more regular basis.”
Papua New Guinea (PNG), Scotland, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the United States of America (USA) were the other teams to compete in the eight-team tournament.
Bangladesh and Thailand took the two spots reserved in this tournament for the last-two placed teams from the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2020, while the remaining teams came through the Regional Qualifiers.
Scotland (Europe), UAE (Asia), USA (America) and Zimbabwe (Africa) won their regional competitions while PNG qualified as the highest ranked side from East Asia Pacific (as of 30 November 2021), which could not hold a competition due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Ireland qualified as the highest ranked side from the regional competitions not to qualify.
Fatima Sana ruled out of ACC T20 Asia Cup 2022
SPORTS BULLETIN
Lahore: , 18 September 2022: Fast bowler Fatima Sana has been ruled out of the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup scheduled to take place in Sylhet, Bangladesh from October 1. Fatima twisted her ankle while featuring in the Women’s Caribbean Premier League. The PCB Medical panel after investigating the injury have advised her a four-week rest.
Fatima, who featured for Barbados Royal in the CPL was also not part of the first phase of the preparation camp for the tournament held in Lahore from 30 August to 2 September. Her replacement will be announced in due course.
Meanwhile, Pakistan squad and the reserves will assemble at Lahore Country Club, Muridke later today to undergo a 10-day camp starting tomorrow (Monday). The national side will fly out for Bangladesh on 28 September.
Pakistan squad:
Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hasan
Reserve players:
Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani and Waheeda Akhtar
Player support personnel:
Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach), Mauhtashim Rashid (fielding coach), Muhammad Zubair Ahmad (analyst) and Rifat Gill (physiotherapist).
Alice and Kemp earn first England Women ODI call-ups
SPORTS BULLETIN
London (UK):-A squad of 15 has been named for the three-match series, which will be England’s first fixtures in the new ICC Women’s Championship cycle, with points leading to qualification for the ICC Women’s World Cup in 2025. Amy Jones will continue to lead the side in the absence of Heather Knight and Nat Sciver, with Sophie Ecclestone her vice-captain.
Names of players:
Amy Jones (Central Sparks, captain), Tammy Beaumont (Lightning), Lauren Bell (Southern Vipers), Maia Bouchier (Southern Vipers), Alice Capsey (South East Stars), Kate Cross (Thunder), Freya Davies (South East Stars), Alice Davidson-Richards (South East Stars), Charlie Dean (Southern Vipers), Sophia Dunkley (South East Stars), Sophie Ecclestone (Thunder, vice-captain), Freya Kemp (Southern Vipers), Emma Lamb (Thunder), Issy Wong (Central Sparks), Danni Wyatt (Southern Vipers)
Head Coach Lisa Keightley said:
“I was so proud of how the team came together to win the Vitality IT20 series. Sometimes when you’re missing big name players, other players step up and take their chance and I felt we really did that. It’s a young group but they worked tremendously hard and showed their skill and resilience to get over the line.
“Amy did a great job as captain and she was ably supported by Sophie so we want them to carry on what they’ve been doing. It’s another big series, especially with points counting towards ICC Women’s World Cup qualification, and with the summer ending at Lord’s there’s a lot to be excited about.”
Glenn second among bowlers in ICC T20I Player Rankings
SPORTS BULLETIN
Dubai (UAE):-England all-rounder Sarah Glenn has closed in on compatriot Sophie Ecclestone in the MRF Tyres ICC Women’s T20I Player Rankings after a fine show in the first match of their three-T20I series against India at Chester-le-Street on Saturday.
Glenn, whose haul of four for 23 helped her team to a nine-wicket victory and won her the Player of the Match award, is at a career-best-equalling second position and just 13 rating points adrift of left-arm spinner Ecclestone. Glenn has been ranked second on a few occasions in the past too, most recently last month, before she was overtaken by Katherine Brunt.
England batters Sophia Dunkley and Alice Capsey too have made notable gains after the first match of their series. Dunkley’s unbeaten 61 off 44 balls sees her move up 13 places to 44th position while Capsey’s brisk 32 not out off 20 deliveries has lifted her 12 places to 52nd. Freya Davis has gained nine places and is 59th among bowlers.
For India, seamer Renuka Singh (up five places to 13th) has moved up among bowlers while all-rounder Deepti Sharma (up three places to 33rd) and wicketkeeper-batter Richa Ghosh (up four places to 75th) have advanced in the batters’ list.
Ireland and Scotland players too have something to cheer about ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Qualifier 2022 starting Sunday in Abu Dhabi, in which they are pooled together in Group A.
Saskia Horley of Scotland has moved up 16 places to 54th among batters after her knock of 44 in a losing cause in their second T20I while Ireland leg-spinner Cara Murray’s two-wicket haul has lifted her 14 places to 94th position.
Ireland’s Leah Paul (up three places to 68th), Arlene Kelly (up 16 places to 74th) and captain Laura Delany (up eight places to 75th) have moved up in the list of bowlers while all-rounder Orla Prendergast has advanced in all three lists.
Six Pakistan women internationals to attend coaching course
SPORTS BULLETIN
Lahore:-Six Pakistan women internationals are amongst 24 participants that have registered for the six-day ACC Level 2 Women Coaching Course, which will be held at the National High Performance Centre in Lahore from 12 to 17 September.
Pakistan international players include Ayesha Zafar (29 ODIs, 20T20Is), Iram Javed (21 ODIs, 51 T20Is), Nahida Bibi (66 ODIs, 54 T20Is), Nashra Sundhu (49 ODIs, 28 T20Is), Natalia Pervaiz (three ODIs, 11 T20Is) and Sidra Amin (48 ODIs, 25 T20Is). Farah Naeem, Saira Iftikhar, Samina Bibi and Shehla Bibi are other participants from Pakistan.
Other participants in the course, include representatives from Bahrain, Bhutan (two), Hong Kong (two), Iran, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal (two), Maldives, Qatar (two) and Singapore.
The Level 2 course participants will be taught the advance coaching skills which include batting, bowling, fielding and wicket-keeping. This also includes work on communications skills, mental and physical strength, planning and creating quality learning environments which help players graduate to the next level.
The course will be conducted by National High Performance Centre coaches Mauhtashim Rashid, Mohsin Kamal, Rahat Abbas Asadi and it will be headed by Shahid Aslam. At the conclusion of the course, the participants will be given three months to complete their assignments. The successful participants will be awarded Level 2 coaching certificates.
ACC Level 2 Women’s Coaching Course participants:
Ayesha Zafar (Pakistan), Dechen Wangmo (Bhutan), Deepika Rasangika (Bahrain), Elnaz Parvin (Iran), Emylia Eliani Binti Md Rahim (Malaysia), Farah Naeem (Pakistan), Iram Javed (Pakistan), Janaki Bhatt (Nepal), Kary Chan (Hong Kong), Khadija Khalil (Kuwait), Mariyam Zoona (Maldives), Nahida Bibi (Pakistan), Nashra Sundhu (Pakistan), Natalia Pervaiz (Pakistan), Rochelle Sherlene Quyn (Qatar), Saira Iftikhar (Pakistan), Samina Bibi (Pakistan), Shafina Mahesh (Singapore), Shahreen Nawab (Qatar), Shehla Bibi (Pakistan), Sidra Amin (Pakistan), Sobha Ale (Nepal), Tammy Chu (Hong Kong) and Yeshey Choden (Bhutan)
Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz return to T20I side for Asia Cup
Sports Bulletin Report
LAHORE:-Opener Sidra Amin and wicketkeeper Sidra Nawaz have earned recalls in the national side for the ACC Women’s T20 Asia Cup in Sylhet, Bangladesh next month. The 15-player squad unveiled by national women’s selector Asmavia Iqbal also includes uncapped all-rounder Sadaf Shamas.
There are three changes in the squad that featured in the tri-series in Ireland (that included hosts and Australia) and Birmingham Commonwealth Games in July-August. The players who miss out are Anam Amin, Gul Feroza and Iram Javed.
Pakistan squad: Bismah Maroof (c), Aiman Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Diana Baig, Fatima Sana, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Sadaf Shamas, Sadia Iqbal, Sidra Amin, Sidra Nawaz (wk) and Tuba Hasan
Reserve players: Nashra Sundhu, Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani and Waheeda Akhtar
The first phase of the tournament will be played on round robin basis following which the top four teams will qualify for semi-finals.
Selector Asmavia Iqbal: “I want to congratulate the 15 players selected for the all-important Asia Cup next month. These players have been selected after observing their performances in the recent practice matches in Lahore.
“We have also selected an additional keeper in Sidra Nawaz because of the long duration of the tournament. On these tracks, we need a specialist wicketkeeper as a backup for Muneeba Ali, in case she becomes unavailable.
“Sadaf Shamas did extraordinary well in the recent practice matches and we feel this was the right time to elevate her to the national side. I am sure she will prove to be a good addition to the national side. Her ability to bat in the middle order and bowl medium fast makes her a good fit in the side and promises to provide balance to the playing XI whenever she gets her chance.
“I had detailed conversations with the players who have been dropped. The decision to leave them out was taken considering their recent form and the conditions our team will encounter. They understand the areas they need to work on and I am sure they will continue to put in the hard yards and stage a strong comeback.”
Left-arm orthodox Nashra Sundhu, after missing the tri-series and the Commonwealth Games because of a shoulder injury, is one of the four players on standby in Pakistan. The other three are: Natalia Pervaiz, Umme Hani and Waheeda Akhtar.
The 15-player squad and the reserves will undergo 10-day camp at Lahore Country Club, Muridke from 18 to 27 September and the national side will fly out for Bangladesh on 28 September.
Following David Hemp’s decision to not to extend his contract, the Pakistan Cricket Board will start the search for the new head coach following the expiration of his contract in mid-October.
Player support personnel: Ayesha Ashhar (team manager), Saleem Jaffer (bowling coach), Mauhtashim Rashid (fielding coach), Mohammad Zubair Ahmad (analyst) and Rifat Gill (physiotherapist).
Eyman blasts unbeaten 70, as Central Punjab beat Sindh to lift trophy
Sports Bulletin Report
MURIDKE:-It was a commanding 70 not out at a strike rate of 106.06 by Central Punjab opener Eyman Fatima that made her side champions of the Women’s Under-19 T20 Tournament with a seven-wicket win over Sindh.
Central Punjab chased down 109 with four balls spare at Lahore Country Club as player of the final Eyman smashed 12 fours and two sixes in her 66-ball knock. She added 32 runs for the opening wicket with captain Shawal Zulfiqar and 49 with Warda Yousaf for the second wicket.
Eyman finished the tournament with the second most runs (171 at 85.50) – one run behind her captain, Shawal, who topped the charts with 172 (86 average). The two Central Punjab batters were amongst the four batters to score half-centuries in the tournament with Sindh’s Aroob Shah and Central Punjab’s Warda Yousaf being the other two.
Sindh managed 108 for eight after they were put into bat. Aroob, once again, led her side from front with 45 off 28 (eight fours) before she was run out by her opposite number. Anoosha Nasir made 21 off 25.
Central Punjab’s Quratulain and Laiba Nasir returned two for 14 and two for 22. Quratulain, along with Aroob, finished as the leading wicket-taker in the tournament (nine wickets).
Aroob was named player of the tournament for her all-round show. Best performers of the tournament were all from Central Punjab as Shawal bagged the award for batter, Quratulain for bowler, Eyman for fielder and Zamina Tahir for wicketkeeper.
Brief Scores:
Sindh 108-8, 20 overs (Aroob Shah 45; Quratulain 2-14, Laiba Nasir 2-22)
Central Punjab 110-3, 19.2 overs (Eyman Fatima 70 not out)
Awards:
Player of the final – Eyman Fatima (Central Punjab)
Player of the tournament – Aroob Shah (Sindh)
Best batter – Shawal Zulfiqar (Central Punjab)
Best bowler – Quratulain (Central Punjab)
Best wicketkeeper – Zamina Tahir (Central Punjab)
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