PEHSAWAR: Four teams will compete for Rs1million prize money (winners) from Thursday when the Pakistan Cup Women’s One-Day Tournament commences. The 14-match tournament will be staged at the iconic National Stadium and Oval Academy Ground in Karachi.
This tournament marks the beginning of an action-packed women’s season 2021-22 and it sees strikers mark their debut. The fourth team has been added in the two domestic tournaments – Pakistan Cup Women’s One-Day Tournament and National Women’s T20 – as the player pool continues to grow gradually.
Read more:
Misbah, Waqar resign month before T20 World Cup
Malik, Sarfaraz dropped as PCB names T20 World Cup squad
Strikers, the new-entrants, are captained by Pakistan all-rounder Kainat Imtiaz. Blasters are led by Pakistan wicketkeeper-batter Sidra Nawaz, Challengers by Pakistan captain Javeria Khan and Dynamites by Pakistan opener Muneeba Ali Siddiqui.
In line with its policy of incentivising top-performers, every player of the match will get Rs20,000, while the runner-up team will get Rs500,000. The player of the tournament will earn Rs50,000. To further promote the women’s game and attract girls towards the sport, the PCB will live-stream seven matches on its official YouTube channel.
The final will be a day-night affair and will be staged at the National Stadium on 21 September. Meanwhile, the four captains have vowed to give their best in their tournament with an eye on the trophy.
“We have a very good team and we are really looking forward to the tournament. The aim would be to of course to win the title and make Blasters champions. The addition of the fourth team means we will get to play more matches which augurs well for our preparations for the upcoming international season especially the World Cup qualifiers,” Blasters captain Sidra Nawaz said.
Javeria Khan of Challengers said, “The goal would be to get well in the short time we have had to build-up for the event, once the tournament starts we would aim to remain in a good positive mind. I think we have a balanced outfit that can do well and lift the trophy. My personal aim would be to make big runs and regain my batting form.”
“Each team will play seven matches in the tournament which will provide the players an excellent opportunity of making an impression. The aim would be to attain good rhythm and momentum at the start of the tournament and carry it to the final,” Muneeba Ali Siddiqui captain of Dynamites team said.
Kainat Imtiaz, Strikers was of the view, “This is the first time that the fourth team, Strikers is entering the tournament. The induction of the fourth team is a great incentive and motivation for upcoming players as they will get the opportunity of expressing their talent. As Strikers captain my aim would be to deliver to the best of my abilities and lead my team to the tournament final.”
Squads
Blasters: Sidra Nawaz (captain and wicketkeeper), Aisha Javed, Arijah Haseeb, Bibi Nahida, Fajar Naveed, Fatima Sana Khan, Gull Firoza, Momina Riasat, Nida Rashid, Noreen Yaqoob, Omaima Sohail, Saima Malik, Shawal Zulfiqar and Syeda Aroob Shah
Challengers: Javeria Khan (captain), Anoosha Nasir, Diana Baig, Dua Majid, Fareeha Mehmood, Gull Rukh, Iram Javed, Khadija Chishty, Najiha Alvi (wicketkeeper), Nazish Rafique, Saba Nazir, Sidra Amin, Syeda Masooma Zehra Fatima and Waheeda Akhtar.
Dynamites: Muneeba Ali Siddiqui (captain), Aliya Riaz, Fatima Zahra, Ghulam Fatima, Humna Bilal, Huraina Sajjad, Kaynat Hafeez, Maham Tariq, Nashra Sundhu, Neha Shermeen, Rida Aslam, Sadaf Shamas, Soha Fatima (wicketkeeper) and Syeda Insharah Asad
Strikers: Kainat Imtiaz (captain), Aima Saleem Satti, Ayesha Naseem, Ayesha Zafar, Bisma Amjad, Fatima Khan, Gul Uswa, Hafsa Khalid, Jaweria Rauf, Natalia Parvaiz, Umme Hani, Syeda Asma Amin (wicketkeeper), Tuba Hassan and Yusra Amir (wicketkeeper).
Tournament schedule
9 September – Dynamites vs Blasters, National Stadium
Challengers’ vs Strikers, Oval Academy Ground
11 September –Dynamites vs Challengers, National Stadium
Blasters vs Strikers, Oval Academy Ground
13 September –Dynamites vs Strikers, National Stadium
Blasters vs Challengers, Oval Academy Ground
15 September – Challengers vs Strikers, National Stadium
Dynamites vs Blasters, Oval Academy Ground
17 September –Blasters vs Strikers, National Stadium
Dynamites vs Challengers, Oval Academy Ground
19 September –Blasters vs Challengers, National Stadium
Dynamites vs Strikers, Oval Academy Ground
21 September –Third position play-off, Oval Academy Ground
Final (day and night) National Stadium.