DUBAI: Pakistan women’s cricket team will face New Zealand in a crucial match of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup on Monday in Dubai.
The match, which kicks off at 7:00 p.m. Pakistan Standard Time, holds high stakes for both teams as they fight to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
Pakistan, currently placed third in Group A, must secure a victory to remain in contention for the semi-finals after a mixed campaign so far.
The Green Shirts opened the tournament with a win against Sri Lanka but suffered back-to-back defeats to India and Australia, placing them in an unwarranted position heading into Monday’s encounter.
The Pakistan team, led by stand-in captain Muneeba Ali, is gearing up for the must-win clash under the guidance of head coach Mohammad Wasim. The team held a practice session on Sunday evening at the Dubai Cricket Stadium from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. to fine-tune their preparations for the do-or-die match.
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New Zealand, also needing a win to stay in the competition, presents a tough challenge for Pakistan. Both teams are desperate for maximum points to boost their chances of advancing to the semi-finals.
In their previous outing, Pakistan suffered a heavy 9-wicket defeat to defending champions Australia. The Pakistani batting lineup struggled throughout the game, managing only 82 runs before being bowled out.
Aliya Riaz emerged as the team’s top scorer with 26 runs from 32 balls, but her efforts weren’t enough to rescue Pakistan from Australia’s dominant performance. Australia chased down the modest target with ease.
