Is Pakistan Women’s Cricket in Safe Hands? Looking at Pakistan’s Talent Pool in T20s

Certainty is a luxury seldom afforded in Pakistan Cricket. When I started working on this article – just after the heartbreak that ended our Asia Cup campaign this year – Nida Dar was our captain, and it was assumed she would be for the time being. At least until the World Cup – which would have been our next assignment – in October. For better or for worse, right now as I make final edits on this article (which has now lived multiple lives already), Fatima Sana is our captain. Looking at South Africa, who tour us later this month, as her first assignment.

While I was researching to write this article, my brain grappled with lists upon lists of names and numbers and more names and more numbers, trying to make sense of what we have and what we don’t. Determining whether we are in a good place, in safe hands, felt like a mammoth task – that too, where I could not even figure out where to start from.

Everything I came across jumbled up in my head until it became a thick, impenetrable forest. So I decided to cut out a path in this forest — one that is accessible for easy-walking, easy-wandering. step-by-step; top-order, middle-order, pace and spin. The way paved.

Before you proceed, I feel a disclaimer is necessary. While I have tried my best to rely on T20I performances, I have had to incorporate domestic and in some cases, ODI, performances too. Owing to the inconsistency of run and limited international game time some of these girls have suffered through.

I have, however, mostly relied on matches played in 2023 and 2024 to keep it as fair as I could. Having said that, while I have used (basic) numbers where necessary, this piece is not from the desk of a data analyst, but a fan. What I hope you take away from this piece, once you have read it, is a sense of familiarity the next time you see Pakistan Women take the field.

Top Order Options

Muneeba Ali

Pakistan’s batting line-up is perpetually riddled with experimentation, sometimes warranted and other times not, with chaos, and with certain confusion. And in there stands the left-handed, part-time wicketkeeper, batter Muneeba; we have played her as an opener, then we briefly experimented with her in the middle order until Bismah Maroof retired and we decided Muneeba might fill up those (very big) shoes.

We have relied on her to hit pace and we also bank on her to take on leg-spin, i.e., our Achilles heel. Muneeba, aside from Nida, is the only batter we back to bat in any condition, take on any bowling, and not be afraid to hit, hit and hit. It is almost too high a demand. Muneeba, in reply, has shown up – say what may – and this is not an opinion.

She has scored the most runs for Pakistan thus far in 2024 (280 from 12 innings) and is only behind Bismah, Javeria Khan and Nida Dar on the list of runs for Pakistan in WT20Is. The left-handed batter is also currently the only T20I centurion for Pakistan Women. Her century, which came at the World Cup last year against Ireland and overcame her earlier best score (43) in the format, proved two things; 1) Muneeba believes in going big or going home 2) Muneeba is an opportunist; which is a good thing in this sport!

I would argue, that since we do not have a batter as cheeky, as adapting, as aggressive and as explosive as Muneeba in the powerplay, hence, she should open our innings nine out of ten times.

Sidra Amin

If you had asked me about Sidra Amin and her T20 batting in 2022, I would have scoffed. But somewhere during our top-order experimenting ahead of (and during!) the T20 World Cup last year, there emerged our fail-safe in the guise of Sidra.

She is perhaps our most important batter currently; especially with Bismah gone, Sidra has to play the glue that keeps the batting together – a thankless job, which comes with little glamor and unwarranted feedback.

It helps that, come 2024, Sidra transformed her T20 game. At the National Women’s T20 tournament, Sidra’s batting had an attacking spirit – for the lack of which she had been relentlessly criticized for – as she emerged as the most dangerous batter in the competition. She scored the most runs, utilized the powerplay, hit big shots, cleared the ropes and announced that she would no longer be categorized as an “ODI specialist”.

While she has struggled with her form in past few games – including the Asia Cup and Pakistan’s tour to England – she has churned out runs (240 in 10 innings) because she is almost as resilient as Muneeba is brave. Which brings me to our current dilemma; Sidra in the powerplay is exciting to watch for sure, but is she as good as Muneeba in the powerplay?

Gull Feroza

Up until the Asia Cup, my preferred opening duo was Sidra and Muneeba. Then in walked Gull Feroza, adorning 56 on her back and announcing cover drive as her favorite shot to play and putting her foot down about playing modern cricket, I was thrown off and how.

Sure, Gull was impressive in the NWT20; she carried her team’s (Multan) batting – scoring five! half-centuries – but I wasn’t moved. Then came the West Indies series and the England series; I saw her determination but did we need her? Apparently, yes we do.

Because come the Asia Cup this year, Muneeba and Gull would make a solid case for themselves as the opening duo for Pakistan for the future. The two hundred-run opening stands between them prompted fans to draw parallels with another Pakistani opening duo that consists of a jersey-number 56 and a wicketkeeper batter (ominous? sacrilegious?) and thus ensued edits.

But I digress; Gull, the player of the match in both games Pakistan won at the Asia Cup, had back-to-back half-centuries (57 v Nepal, 62* v UAE). Her innings versus Nepal in particular, in my opinion, cements her place as Muneeba’s partner at the top because there has rarely been a case where Muneeba has played the spectator’s role but on that day in Dambulla, as Gull took on the Nepali bowlers, striking at 163 and hitting round the park, she showed us that she is here to stay.

But if Gull and Muneeba open, is Sidra at number three sustainable?

Sadaf Shamas

Admittedly, Sadaf Shamas has not been given a fair chance and hence it would be wrong to argue that she should not compete for the coveted opening slot; but it is already crowded with Gull, Muneeba and Sidra eying to bat through the powerplay.

Sadaf has been hard done by; in and out of the team without a consistent run, thrown into the side to replace Bismah at the commonwealth games, then reintroduced as another top-order option after she hit a century at the NWT20 (the only one other than Sidra to do so).

Batting at three, she fared well against England in the first T20; a 24-ball 35 that showcased seven boundaries had fans applauding the young batter for her intent. Her unceremonious exclusion from Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad left the fans equally confused. Her ability to hit and more importantly, her willingness to, had won enough fans over to make it a massive point of contention as Pakistan struggled with cementing their batting line-up.

Yet, there cannot be four openers in the Pakistan playing 11. So how do we make the choice?

Other potential top-order options: Ayesha Zafar (RHB), Dua Majid (RHB), Shawaal Zulfiqar (RHB), Eyman Fatima (RHB) and Yusra Amir (RHB)

Middle and Lower Middle-order Options

Nida Dar

Perhaps our greatest ever T20 player, Nida Dar walks into any side purely on her ability to take the game away in an over – no matter with the bat in hand or the ball. Her laurels are many and her service to Pakistan Cricket immense; it would not be fair to start to jot them down in this article, so as to balance attention across the players.

I will say though, her utility to the side is unparalleled; she is only behind Bismah and Javeria in the numbers chart for Pakistan in WT20Is (1964 in 134 innings) and has taken the most wickets for Pakistan in the format (142). Sana Mir, the second name on the list, is 53 wickets behind which perhaps exemplifies what Nida means to the side.

Even while struggling with form and fitness, the ex-captain is only behind Muneeba, Sidra and Gull on the runs chart for 2024 thus far and lagging behind only Sadia Iqbal in the wickets column.

While inevitable, of course, this is Nida not at her best; a standard perhaps no one, not even Nida can match up to anymore. Therein lies the conundrum which Pakistan face in 2024: a) Nida is not her best self, b) a side with Nida shy-of-best is still better than a Nida-less side and c) she is, for better or worse, our most experienced player, ahead of a World Cup.

Fatima Sana replacing her as captain means that Nida is no longer as indispensable, but perhaps that is the solution when you want a player like Nida around when it feels like you can no longer afford to rely too much on them like you have been previously spoiled to do. Having said all that, where do we go from here?

Aliya Riaz

With a player like Aliya Riaz, it is easy to cut some slack when you fail to do justice to your role on occasions, because you know they will make it up. Case in point; throwing helmets, arms spread wide, redeeming herself by hitting winning runs against South Africa at home (a series Pakistan successfully won 3-0) nearly a year after failing to hit the final run as Pakistan lost the Asia Cup semi-final against Sri Lanka by just a run.

Her failure in Bangladesh in 2023 is replied to by her success in New Zealand later the same year and so on. Conditions, you reach the conclusion. 1035 T20I runs, you argue, mean something. But then she costs you another semi-final; in Sri Lanka, against Sri Lanka at the Asia Cup.

Her batting does not have the heart that makes Aliya, Aliya. More shockingly, her fielding is sub-par. The world is burning down and Aliya Riaz – the player you trust to have a fire extinguisher hiding in her kit bag – is suddenly no longer confident in her abilities to see things through.

But with a World Cup right around the corner, Nida struggling and Bismah retired, you have no choice but to stick by Aliya – praying and hoping, when the time comes, she sees things through; like she has against South Africa, against New Zealand and against England.

For good measure: you pigeon them a reminder [with great power, comes great responsibility] and you cross your fingers.

Najiha Alvi

Here is a cardinal rule of cricket: you always play your best wicketkeeper. Najiha Alvi is a peculiar case; despite being the best option Pakistan have behind the stumps, she was left on the bench throughout the Asia Cup. Now, I would rather not go the could-have, should-have, what-if rabbit hole, but one does wonder whether playing Muneeba, a part-time wicketkeeper, over Najiha was a wise choice, especially since that meant we were a batter short in the middle-order.

Her numbers in the shortest format do not reflect her ability well; purely because she has not yet been given enough time in the middle to prove her worth with the bat. What is important is, that Najiha is a clever player and handy with the bat when needed because she understands her role well; case in point, her knocks versus New Zealand in the ODI series last year (yes, yes format mixing, I know, but what I mean to say is she is smart and she knows what is expected of her).

So, if you have a wicketkeeper of Najiha’s abilities, you ought to have her behind the stumps more often than not. Just as Karachi, the domestic side Najiha and Muneeba both play for, were wise enough to do so at the NWT20 this year.

Other potential middle-order options: Omaima Sohail (RHB, RAOB), Natalia Parvaiz (RHB, RAF), Iram Javaid (RHB) and Sidra Nawaz (RHB, WK)

Pace options

Fatima Sana

When it came to our newly appointed captain, I struggled to decide where Fatima Sana should be slotted: she is a pacer, but she is a proper middle-order bat too. Whatever you categorize her as, perhaps the most important name on our team sheet, Fatima lives up to the pace-allrounder dreams of the Pakistan fanbase, who have grown up to the legend of Imran Khan. Big words, I know, but hear me out.

Think about Pakistan touring New Zealand in December 2023 on the back of a gruelling tour of Bangladesh, spirits broken and Fatima – who had missed out on said tour – returning from an injury. And return she did; her career-best figures of 3-18 would ensure that she takes the Player of the Match award as Pakistan began the series on a high.

Her spell (3-22) in the following game would help Pakistan become the first Asian side to win a series against New Zealand at home. But it didn’t end there: in the one-day series that followed, Nida was ruled out with an injury after the first ODI and who else, but Fatima, would replace her as captain. Finding her side struggling at 35-4, Fatima walked into bat and hit an unbeaten 90 to resurrect the innings. New Zealand eventually won the game, but Fatima, once again, proved why she is Pakistan’s go-to answer.

You need an early breakthrough? Fatima says no problem. You need runs saved at death? She will take a wicket for safe measure. You need someone to salvage the innings? Fatima says yes ma’am. You need someone who will hit out the park? Give her the bat. You need someone to stand as captain? She is already setting the field. But then when Fatima is expected to be all this, how do we make it sustainable? You bring her like-minded help to the squad, of course.

Diana Baig

I have always maintained that if Diana Baig is fit, she should be in the playing eleven. If for nothing else, purely for the devastating impact Fatima and Diana have, when bowling in tandem; Fatima attacks from one end while Diana contains on the other. Pace bowling, as glamorous as it may be, is often impossible to sustain if you are a Pakistani, especially a woman.

Fitness concerns have thus plagued Diana’s career; she has been in and out of the team and even had to sit out the NWT20 this year. But even when she is not at her best, Diana is a force to be reckoned with. Her control over line and length makes her more trustworthy than her partner Fatima, who is often accused of leaking runs with her overenthusiasm upfront. Where Fatima attacks, Diana supports, and there you find wickets.

It happened this year in England, the previous year in New Zealand and every time Fatima and Diana have bowled together for Pakistan before that. Which is why, it is pertinent that the two continue to bowl together; for bowling is also better, when done in partnerships.

Even if we keep aside the cricketing merit (which Diana comfortably passes and then some), she makes it to the squad purely on aura points; she has a banger playlist (that I can personally vouch for, having seen her train at the NCA), she has represented Pakistan nationally in two sports (cricket and football), she runs marathons and she is the only player from Hunza to have made it to the national team.

Other potential pace options: Waheeda Akhtar (RAF), Humna Bilal (RAF), Tasmia Rubab (LAF), Neha Sharmin Nadeem (LAF) and Zaib-un-Nisa Niaz (RAF)

Spin options

Tuba Hassan

For the sake of my own integrity, I will accept that Tuba Hassan is my favourite player. However, on an unrelated note, I am willing to bet my copy of Pride and Prejudice that she is, if not the second-best, amongst our top five T20 players in the current pool. On paper, she is a leg-break bowler who can bat a bit, but according to Tuba herself, she is a batter who transitioned into a leggie. Make of that what you will.

At the NWT20 this year, Tuba was Quetta’s leading run-scorer (297 in 9 innings) and the highest wicket-taker (8 wickets in 9 innings). Coming up the order, Tuba was one of the most exciting batters of the domestic tournament; she was quick, brave and fun. And with Ayesha Naseem’s sudden exit (sigh) from Pakistan Cricket, the void has been glaringly large, so it especially helps that Tuba (and Fatima and Syeda Aroob Shah) are now being eyed for the hard-hitting middle-order role.

The glimpses of which were seen by the entire world when she came out to bat versus India in the Asia Cup this year. While her bowling has suffered quite a bit since her finger injury in 2022, I am personally not too concerned; she is still dangerous, as was admitted by Stefanie Taylor when West Indies toured Pakistan earlier this year, Perhaps what she needs is consistent game time (which she hasn’t) and a thorough backing (which she hasn’t). It especially helps that she now has a spin-twin, who can pick up the slack on days Tuba lags and vice versa.

Syeda Aroob Shah

One of the most exciting things about Pakistan’s Asia Cup squad was the inclusion of Syeda Aroob Shah; having two leg-spinners when we have historically gone with finger-spin options at the expense of the former was a big deal for anyone who has followed this team. Like Tuba, Aroob too has been in and out of the team. Like Tuba, Aroob too had a resurgence at the NWT20; she was the second-best leg spinner of the tournament (14 wickets in 10 matches) and had cameoed with the bat on multiple occasions.

I know I have overused the word enough times that it may start to lose its meaning soon but once again, the best thing about Aroob is that she is brave; if I wasn’t convinced before, her bowling, full of heart, against India at the Asia Cup this year made it undeniable.

Now, Pakistan should consider themselves lucky to have stumbled upon Tuba and Aroob – I say stumbled because I do not believe Pakistan have fully comprehended the utility the two possess, especially when together – because we have struck gold with two leg-spinners who know their way around with the bat and are extremely safe fielders (Aroob might even be the best fielder we have in the country right now).

Nashra Sandhu

Nida has been accused of relying too much on her Slow-Left Arm duo but if you had Nashra Sandhu and Sadia Iqbal in your arsenal, you would be a fool not to. Admittedly, Nashra hasn’t been up to the mark this year – aside from, of course, devastating the opposition batters at the NWT20 as the second-highest wicket-taker (19 wickets @ 5.38) of the tournament.

With only five wickets in eight T20Is and a last over that awarded Sri Lanka a ticket to the Asia Cup final, it is easy to forget what Nashra is capable of. But there was a reason Nida trusted Nashra to bowl that crucial penultimate over and there was a reason we all were equally taken aback when she could not; Nashra is extraordinary, and quietly so, that you get so used to her getting the job done that there is almost no room for doubt.

At the World Cup last year, she was Pakistan’s most economical bowler and incidentally, had the most wickets for the side too. She repeated the feat at home when Pakistan whitewashed South Africa in the T20 series. She was also the most effective bowler for Pakistan during the very challenging Bangladesh tour, albeit thoroughly helped by fellow spinners Sadia and Umm-e-Hani.

The point is: more often than not, whenever Nashra comes in to bowl, she will choke the flow of runs. The opposition will make a mistake because her accuracy will invite them to do so. She will do it over and over again, you’d think they’d anticipate her enough to negotiate it. But that is the beauty of it; Nashra does her job so well that it is almost easy to take it for granted and that’s where will surprise you by repeating the same.

Sadia Iqbal

Some players are born great, some achieve greatness and some have greatness thrust upon them. Sadia Iqbal, is somehow, all three. She is talented, perhaps not as naturally inclined as Nashra (though, this is up for debate), but she is talented. She has achieved much: for example, she is Pakistan’s highest-ranked T20I bowler (currently 4th on ICC’s T20I bowling rankings). Yet somehow, Sadia always emerges as the unlikely hero – as it happened during the recent Asia Cup, where Sadia, who had been in rehab at the start of the year recovering from an injury, was Pakistan’s MVP.

She is topping the wickets chart for Pakistan in T20Is for 2024 thus far (18 wickets at 5.58); the second name on the list is her captain, Nida, who lags behind by six wickets. Her spell at the semi-final, although in vain, yielded four wickets – including that of Sri Lanka’s most prized bat, Chamari Athapaththu – encapsulated why Sadia is the most courageous of fighters in the side.

In the face of adversity, whether on the field or off, Sadia stands tall and you can’t help but lean on her.

Umm-e-Hani

There are very few bowlers that have outbowled Nida and Umm-e-Hani is one of them; now, it may have had something to do with Nida going through a rough patch but Hani emerged as the more threatening off-spinner the last time Nida and her bowled together (ODI series against England).

That is not to suggest that Hani is competing with Nida but the opposite; I would argue that Hani possesses the skill needed to support and cover for someone as effective as Nida. And the reason I make this point is, for some reason, Pakistan always find themselves falling back on Omaima Sohail – who perpetually resides in the limbo that is Pakistan Women’s domestic-to-international cricket pipeline – as we saw happen during the Asia Cup this year.

But we need not to be. While Hani may not be as reliable a batter as Omaima, that is not for lack of skill – she is a decent death-overs bat – but rather practice. An ailment that can be remedied with the right course of action. Hani has been unlucky – she too has been in and out of the playing eleven and thus, her numbers read as such, and during NWT20, a tournament which helped the rest of her peers pave their way to the national side, Hani found herself injured and out.

But if I had to choose someone to cover for Nida, I would go for the trusty off-spinner who can bat a bit, as it was in England this May and as it should have been during the Asia Cup this July.

Ghulam Fatima

Probably the best leg spinner Pakistan currently possesses, Ghulam Fatima had to miss out on the Asia Cup owing to an injury that has kept her away from action for most of 2024 thus far. But does she warrant a place in the team to begin with?

Her last T20I appearance came in late 2022 against Ireland but since then, a lot has happened. For starters, she was Pakistan’s best bowler (6 wickets @ 6.14) against New Zealand in the ODI series, after being excluded from the T20I squad.

Shortly after, Ghulam Fatima took 21 wickets – the most by any bowler – with an economy of 4.44, at the NWT20 to emerge as the best bowler of the tournament. To compare, Aroob (14 wickets @ 5.09) and Tuba (8 wickets @ 7.32) were the next-best leg spin options in the tournament.

Which begs the question: does Ghulam Fatima warrant a place in the team when you have leg spinners like Tuba and Aroob on the roster? The answer, of course, is a simple yes in ODIs but how do you choose in T20Is? But perhaps that is a question for later; that is, when Ghulam Fatima returns to the national side upon the completion of her rehab.

Other potential spin options: Rameen Shamim (RAOB, RHB), Anosha Nasir (SLAO) and Saima Malik (SLAO)

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About the Author: Zoha Chishti is a communications specialist who loves watching, learning, and writing about cricket. in that order.