LONDON — Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has praised the International Cricket Council (ICC) for driving the growth of women’s cricket in Pakistan. The captain spoke ahead of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup set to begin on 12 June in England.
ICC’s Role in Women’s Cricket Development
“I think the ICC takes a lot of initiative about women’s cricket, so everyone knows about the game in Pakistan,” Sana said at the Captains’ Carnival in London on Sunday. She emphasized the significance of Pakistan hosting the next World Cup.
“And finally, we got the chance to host the next World Cup in Pakistan, so that’s also a good thing — I think a lot really depends on this tournament,” the Pakistan captain added.
Pakistan Face Tough Group Stage Challenge
Pakistan are placed in Group 1 alongside formidable opponents in the tournament. The group features some of the strongest teams in women’s cricket.
Pakistan’s Group 1 opponents include:
- Six-time champions Australia
- India
- South Africa
- Bangladesh
- Netherlands
Sana said strong performances in the tournament could translate into broader public support back home. The captain hopes success will boost the profile of women’s cricket in Pakistan.
Regional Growth in Women’s Cricket
Bangladesh’s Rising Profile
Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty echoed similar sentiments about regional development. She pointed to rapid growth in her country’s women’s game over recent years.
“Women’s cricket in Bangladesh is growing really fast as we have been playing through the years — it has actually inspired a lot of young players back home,” Joty said.
Netherlands Make Historic World Cup Debut
Netherlands captain Babette De Leede expressed excitement about her team’s maiden World Cup appearance. Her side qualified after winning five consecutive matches in the Global Qualifiers.
“We’ve never been to a T20 World Cup and we hope to inspire a lot of girls back home,” De Leede said. The Netherlands team aims to make their mark in their debut tournament.
