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| Sunday, 20 January 2002 |
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Pakistan - a young enthusiastic side keen to learn by Pelham Juriansz The Pakistan women cricketers led by allrounder Shaiza Khan arrived yesterday at the Katunayake International Airport for a two-week tour of Sri Lanka. Six one-day internationals are on the cards and the 'curtain-raiser' will be on today at the Colts grounds. The Pakistanis obliged to play in Sri Lanka after the West Indies backed out due to travelling concerns and the captain Shaiza when interviewed at the Sapphire Hotel, Wellawatte (who are hosting the cricketers) said that they quickly decided at short notice to come to Sri Lanka because Sri Lanka always gives them support when needed. A very young Test playing country, Pakistan women just a fledging at four or five years old(being in the Test arena since 1997) they participated in the World Cup of 1997, but did not qualify for the subsequent World Cup held in New Zealand in 2000. "Sri Lanka are a better equipped country as far as Tests and one-day internationals are concerned" acknowledged the 32 year old skipper, who is leading a very young, but fit outfit in that they have the youngest ever player to play Test cricket for Pakistan in 13 year old Shajida Shah, who played for them when she was 12 years and 135 days old. This is the second tour that the Pakistanis are making here and it was in 1998 that they had a one-off Test and 3 one dayers which they lost. This time around they hope to perform better because there is no one off Test and the girls are more used at the one-day version of the game. Leading from the front in what is essentially a man's domain, Shaiza is of the opinion that the allrounders that they have in the side are great and they could give the Sri Lankans a good run for their money. Gwen Herat, the President of the Women's Cricket Association of Sri Lanka said that the Sri Lankan standard was much higher and the girls are fitter and more capable than their counterparts but she was all praise for the Pakistanis who have come to this country at very short notice, filling the void left by the withdrawal of the "Windies". Shaiza who is essentially a leg-spinner will be playing opposite the Sri Lankan off-spinner Suthershini Sivanantham. "We are a team with fresh blood" counteracted the Pakistan skipper and with an average age of 16 years and with about four players of thirty years and just below or so who are capable of delivering the goods. There are only 11 players on tour as one of their key players is injured and could not make it. With her younger sister Sharmeen Khan as her deputy, a fast bowler of repute, and a very capable allrounder and hard hitting bat, Shaiza is looking to her for support. The emphasis will be on spin as most of the squad were brought up playing with their brothers in the yard as there were no schools playing girls cricket. There are four off spinners as in the Sri Lankan side. S.Shah and Rabia Khan will open the batting though of course this is open to change. Kiran Baluch and Nazia Nazeer will bolster the top order batting as will the skipper Shaiza and her sister. Coaching the team is young Shakeel Sajjad who has represented Pakistan in first class cricket and played league cricket in England as well. He has also qualified himself with a level 2 certificate in coaching from England. Managing this young side is quite a task and this is in the very capable hands of Shazia Shabeer. Wicket-keeping is an art and this demanding task is being performed by Uzma Gondal. The others in the team are off-spinners Kiran Baluch, Sajjida Shah. The fast bowlers are Shahid Khan and Batool Fatima Naqvi. Being basically club cricketers, the Pakistanis are starved of matches and look forward to this Sri Lankan tour to improve their standards for the World Cup in South Africa in 2004/2005. "Sri Lankans are very hospitable and we like to invite the Sri Lankan team to play in Pakistan whenever they can" captain Shaiza Khan said. The rest of the squad comprises Meher Minwalla, Zehmaraad Afzal, Khursheed Jabeen. Having defeated Scotland, the Pakistanis are confident that the 'curtain raiser' with the Sri Lankans today will be an exciting one and that they will not be mere "pushovers". |
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