Pakistan’s Women’s Asia Cup campaign appears to be operating in a rather interesting parallel universe.On the field, Pakistan were blown away by India, bundled out for just 55 in 18.1 overs and then beaten by seven wickets in a little over eight overs. Off the field, however, Pakistan women’s team mentor Wahab Riaz remains convinced that his side are the best team in the tournament and have what it takes to win the trophy.India made the Pakistan batting line-up look completely helpless at the Dubai International Stadium on Saturday night, with young spinners Shree Charani and Prema Rawat doing most of the damage. Yet, despite one of Pakistan’s most emphatic defeats in the format, Riaz insisted that the conditions could still work in his team’s favour.“I believe that all the players in our team are very skilful and they just need to trust themselves. Our next match is against Hong Kong. We will go back and discuss what we did wrong against India. We will try not to commit the same mistakes. I still believe Pakistan is the best side in this Asia Cup to lift the trophy because the conditions really suit us,” Riaz told reporters after the match against India.If India’s seven-wicket victory was the reality check, Riaz’s assessment suggested Pakistan were still firmly committed to looking at the brighter version of events.
Pakistan’s 55-run reality check
Pakistan entered the contest needing a strong performance against the tournament favourites. Instead, their batting collapsed spectacularly.Shafali Verma began the demolition by bowling Muneeba Ali for 13, before Charani struck twice in the sixth over. Gull Feroza departed for a duck, while Shawaal Zulfiqar was dismissed for 14, leaving Pakistan at 29 for 3.From there, the innings went rapidly downhill.Pakistan slipped to 32 for 4 in the eighth over and were reduced to 45 for 7 in the 13th. Charani finished with 3/7, while Rawat claimed 3/9. Deepti Sharma also played her part with 2/5 as Pakistan were eventually dismissed for 55 in 18.1 overs.It was Pakistan’s lowest-ever T20I total.Their previous lowest score had been 63, made in 19.1 overs against India in Guangzhou during the group stage of the 2012 Women’s Twenty20 Asia Cup.India, meanwhile, needed only 8.4 overs to chase down the target, losing three wickets along the way. Harmanpreet Kaur remained unbeaten on 18 to complete a victory that never looked remotely in danger.
Wahab disagrees with Sana Mir
Riaz was also asked about criticism from former Pakistan captain Sana Mir, who had questioned the management’s decision to make wholesale changes to the squad for the tournament.Seven players were left out, but Riaz defended the selection calls and argued that the changes were made with the future in mind.“Sana Mir has her own opinion. I have nothing to do with that opinion. We have made changes with the future in mind. The players who were playing before, they have played a lot of World Cups and Asia Cups but we weren’t getting the results. So it was time to go with new faces and bring new girls into the mix to build the team for the upcoming tournaments,” Riaz said.He was equally clear that the players left out had not done enough to retain their places.“It is not about who we left behind. We have to look at the reality. The girls who were left out weren’t performing at all. I think we did the right move by bringing new girls into the mix,” he added.The timing of Riaz’s assessment could hardly have been more striking.Pakistan had just suffered their heaviest batting collapse in T20I history against India, while India extended their perfect run in the tournament to three matches and secured their place in the semi-finals with six points.Pakistan, on two points, now need to beat Hong Kong in their final group match to keep their qualification hopes alive.
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