3 reasons why Pakistan are underdogs to win 2024 Women's T20 World Cup
If there was ever a perfect start for a side with more doubts than hopes - Pakistan defeated Sri Lanka by 31 runs in a low-scoring clash to kick off their 2024 Women's T20 World Cup campaign.
They did it despite being a bowler short after Diana Baig twisted her calf after the first ball of the second innings when Sri Lanka looked the favorites to chase down 117. Sri Lanka even had Pakistan down to 84/8 at one point.
Pakistan's performance was that of the classical underdogs. It was a statement win against a slightly better team on paper with much more momentum and belief, and a win announcing they can do something special this year.
In a tournament where Australia, India, and England own the bragging rights, the odds are still heavily stacked against Pakistan.
But below, we offer three reasons other teams shouldn't underestimate Pakistan.
#3 A brilliant spin combination for perfect conditions
The match between Pakistan and Sri Lanka was a spin shootout. About 90 percent of all overs were bowled by spin and outdoing Sri Lanka in that department is a task in itself - ask India, the Asia Cup runners-up.
But Pakistan were brilliant. Sadia Iqbal and comeback star Omaima Sohail were extremely accurate in keeping almost every ball around the stumps, using the occasional low bounce and astutely dealing with Sri Lanka's desperate sweeps and reverse sweeps.
No bowler went for more than four runs per over and they together executed a good middle-overs choke as seen in the tournament. It was simply perfect bowling for the conditions in Sharjah.
It seems like the conditions will remain like that throughout the tournament, which is in Pakistan's favor because most players have grown up playing in such conditions. They are a better team for low-scoring thrillers than high-scoring manias and the conditions would level the playing field for them against the likes of Australia and England.
#2 An exemplary leader
Sometimes, a team struggling to keep up with legacy sides in international cricket, need a captain who can lead from the front. Fatima Sana has all those qualities and more.
Sana took out the biggest fish in opposition, Chamari Athapaththu's wicket in the third over. A lot of captains could have given up defending a small total with a bowler short but she did the best thing possible and Pakistan were rampant after that.
That was just the second innings. When Pakistan were 84/8 in the first, the 22-year-old (her age makes it even more astonishing) all-rounder scored 30 runs off 20 balls, batting till the last over to keep the team afloat. Her knock ultimately proved to be the difference between the two teams.
Pakistan have several faults but most of them get aggravated due to a lack of belief. This win led by their captain, who deservedly won the Player of the Match award, would go a long way in giving her side momentum, confidence, and belief.
#1 Jazba and drive
We have spoken about the tangibles but that's not enough. The Indian team that won the 2007 World T20 wasn't the best on the visible skills, but they were great on the intangibles - a fearlessness, a motivation to win, and the drive to beat better sides.
Pakistan's team have a massive point to prove too. They are not just underrated but also undervalued, according to a Cricbuzz report. Not only are the players among the most underpaid among full-member cricketing nations, they haven't received their salaries for four months.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has often given the women's cricketers step-motherly treatment. So Sana and her team are fighting for much more than a trophy. They'd know that a win here can garner respect and change the trajectory of the careers of several women athletes back home.
That jazba, passion, a feeling associated with the men's teams of the old, can be seen in this team too. If they can improve on a few things, like fielding, running between the wickets, and batting partnerships, a big surge to the top would not be as big a far cry as it seems now.