If success was achieved by words, Sana Mir would right now be the best captain in the world and Pakistan would be holding many trophies. To be showing the level of confidence in her team that she has, with an implausible self-placed favourites tag on her team, does not come as a complete surprise given the team’s recent ascent.
Pakistan play their opening match of the tournament on Monday against the West Indies, fresh from six back-to-back matches in Ireland and against English Academy.
Speaking exclusively to Dawn at the captains’ photocall at Lord’s on Friday, Sana confirmed that preparations for the tournament could not have been better despite the alien conditions the team has found itself in.
“Prior to our arrival in Ireland, we had a training camp in Muridke’s sizzling conditions,” Sana said. “Upon arrival, we were greeted by freezing conditions for the first match against Ireland. However, the girls adjusted well to the weather, the conditions and the pitch and came back strongly in the following matches.”
Sana, who replaced Urooj Mumtaz as Pakistan’s captain for the tournament, was quite satisfied with her own performance as well, having taken a career-best 4 for 13 against Ireland last month followed by a 2 for 5. “Although I’m in good form with the ball, I would like to contribute more with the bat as well. As captain, I would like to lead from the front and ensure players, who have the potential, bring out their best when turning up for Pakistan.”
Her elevation as captain came as a surprise given Pakistan’s performance at the World Cup under Urooj Mumtaz where they defied all odds to make it past the group stages. Not much has changed due to a change at the helm, according to Sana, who assured that the decision has not affected Mumtaz’s performance either.
“I don’t think there is an issue [with Urooj being replaced as captain]. I’ve carried about in the same manner in the team as before, taking suggestions from everyone including Urooj who is, as always, more than willing to help the team. It’s a team effort once we step onto the field and we’ve improved as professionals, we don’t seek positions in the team any more. Captaincy, however, has come naturally to me. I’ve always thought it was my team.”
Hoping to replicate Pakistan’s performance in Australia, Sana remained adamant that her side has progressed well from their achievements down-under and is capable to causing more upsets. The morale, despite the blistery conditions at times, was high and their job was to exceed everyone’s expectations yet again. “Not many people expected us to go past the group stages in Australia. In fact we were handed our return tickets to Pakistan for the day straight after our last group match. But playing as we did, and going past the group stages, giving those tickets back to the organisers was one of the happiest moments.”
“However, now that we have achieved much and changed people’s mentality, a lot of the same is expected from us. We have a massive following back home and I’m backing my players, who have realised the importance of each and every game, to gather momentum at the right time.”
Although having beaten Ireland, Nottinghamshire and the English Academy, stronger teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, India and England — who won the ICC Women’s World Cup in Australia — lie in wait. The job on hand, as Sana and her team have realised, is difficult and making it to the semi-final is an uphill task.
Much emphasis will be put on good starts following Pakistan’s mediocre performance with the bat in the matches preceding the tournament. But, due to conditions, Sana predicted low-scoring encounters, placing her faith in Pakistan’s bowlers to defend any total and is confident that another good show on the road will further aid the improving image of women’s cricket in Pakistan.
© Faras Ghani 2009
Published in DAWN newspaper June 7, 2009
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