Mohammad Wasim Calls for Major Revamp of Pakistan Women’s Team

Head-coach of the Pakistan Women’s Cricket team Mohammad Wasim has called for a major revamp of the side after another disappointing outing during the ongoing Women’s T20 World Cup in Dubai where they once again failed to advance beyond the group stage.

Their campaign ended with a solitary win after being bowled out for just 56 by New Zealand in their final game, capping off a series of lacklustre performances which did not sit well with their coach.

Pakistan is now set to search for fresh batting talent which is more intone with the international standard of cricket.

“Our major issue is with our batting line-up, and I believe it’s time for us to move forward,” said head coach Mohammad Wasim after their final group-stage match. “We need to shift the team’s mindset, particularly when it comes to batting.”

“We’ve seen some glimpses of potential, but it hasn’t been consistent. Looking ahead to the next World Cup, we’ll need to introduce fresh faces and make some changes to the squad. The senior players must step up in key moments, especially in batting, but that hasn’t been the case. That’s why we need to bring in new talent.”

Wasim’s desire for fresh blood could spell trouble for the renowned former captain Nida Dar, who was replaced by Fatima Sana before the tournament while Sidra Amin and Iram Javed could see the axe drop their way as well.

Dar never looked settled in any of the various positions she batted throughout the tournament, failing to score 30 or more in any of her outings. Her last 30-plus score came 24 innings ago, back in September 2023 against South Africa. Meanwhile, Sidra’s highest score during the tournament was 12, with only one score over 30 in her last 12 T20Is, while Iram Javed has recorded five ducks in her last ten T20I innings.

Wasim acknowledges the experience these players bring but stresses the need for more consistent performances. “Consistency is crucial, but there’s a limit. We’ve changed coaches and staff, and now we need to examine the players as well,” he said.

He indicated that Pakistan will turn to their youth programs to develop new talent, with recent and ongoing Under-19 tournaments offering a good starting point.

“This year’s domestic cricket calendar shows that women’s cricket is gaining more attention than before,” Wasim explained.

There are Under-19 matches happening, and then there will be matches for senior players across various formats. I believe we’ll discover new talent. We can’t use the excuse of lacking talent to justify sticking with the same approach. When results aren’t coming, you have to explore other options. We have the talent, and through domestic cricket, we’ll be closely monitoring potential replacements. We still have time before the next event.

The next major event is the ODI World Cup in India, set to take place in a year.

Pakistan has failed to notch an automatic qualification as Mohammad Wasim and his side currently sit seventh in the Women’s Championship standings. With India hosting and the top five teams earning automatic qualification, Pakistan now faces the challenge of finishing in the top two of a six-team qualifying tournament in order to secure their place in a fifth consecutive 50-over World Cup.