Four matches, four defeats is not exactly how I imagined our Asia Cup campaign would begin. Quite simply, our batting, bowling and fielding hasn't been up to the levels that I would expect considering the ability of players in our team.
We always knew that it would be a challenge to take on the likes of India and Sri Lanka, who are two of the best sides in the world, but we shouldn't really being losing to Bangladesh. However, we have been really impressed with how they have taken the playing at this level and they should be congratulated on the impact that they have on this tournament in their inaugural appearance.
The main positive to take from the event so far was our performance against Sri Lanka in our return match. In all honesty, we probably should have won but once again our batting let us down. We know that we need to eliminate this habit of losing wickets in quick succession if we are to have an impact at the ICC Women's World Cup next year.
One of the things I have taken away from this tournament is that often games can be turned by big performances by two or three players, but unfortunately we haven't been producing enough of these during the event.
From a personal perspective I was determined to have an impact in our game against Sri Lanka and was really pleased with my four wickets and a half-century, although I would obviously have preferred it if we had won. It was a wonderful feeling to score my first ODI fifty for my country, although I wish I could have gone on to a bigger score and guided my side to victory.
Although confidence isn't as high as it could be, the team is hoping to end our campaign on a positive and hopefully gain revenge on Bangladesh.
The experience gained from playing a series of one-day matches at international level has been extremely beneficial and we are only going to get better if we keep playing international cricket on a more regular basis.
While it is important to practice hard, improve our technique and maintain our high levels of fitness, there is nothing quite like match practice and time in the middle to improve our game.
Only then, when you are in match-day situation, can you gain experience of reacting to the pressures of a game and how that can impact on your shot selection when you are bating.
Obviously there is a challenge of facing top-quality international bowlers, particularly the Indian girls, who are so accurate. But the girls are used to facing quality male bowlers in the nets so they shouldn't have to worry about pace for example.
The hectic match schedule hasn't really allowed us to do much away from the cricket, although it has been fun getting to know the Bangladesh girls back at the team hotel.
We also have to be careful about going out at night as there are lots of animals in the surrounding area. I don't have any great ambitions to see a snake while I am here.
We will have a day off today before regrouping ahead of our next fixture where I hope the improvements in performance that we illustrated against Sri Lanka will continue.
Comments
Posted by: Saif Khan at May 7, 2008 7:32 PM
Urooj, take these defeats as a learning step. You should atleast be proud that Pakistan is being represented at this level in a prominent manner. There is always room for improvement. Even for the best of the teams. All the best for future endeavors.
Posted by: Kamran Yousaf at May 7, 2008 7:49 PM
Even though Pak Woment team is loosing, but we are still with you that atleast you are trying, keep it up but i do want to mention couple of things that as you said in your column too that our batting lets us down and i personally feel that our bowling is alot better than our batting so may be instead of chasing a score why not try to defend whatever our team scores atleast we will have a hope that bowlers can or may turn the match but obviously you know better and it depends on the wicket and other factors too, but may be keep that in mind as well and the other thing i wanted to mention was we really need few hitters may be not like Afridi but whatever the available talent is or the management can groom someone in the camps particularly for this thing.
In the end, best of luck and i wish that our team do improve in all three fields and regardless of the result of the match (even though, victory is victory), WE are with you.
Posted by: antara at May 7, 2008 7:54 PM
good luck urooj! i'll root for a pakistani women's team against an indian men's team anyday! :)
Posted by: Imran Khan at May 7, 2008 8:18 PM
As from you name, Urooj, it seems you see in high, you want to have high values, I appreciate your high spirit to win the battle. Dont lose hope, this is the only thing that leads us to the victories. Loosing a match isn't a thing, but one should learn from the errors and mistakes from previous. "Past predicts the future". If we dont learn from past,it means we are looser. I appreciate your spirit to win the games, to win the tournament. I also request you please teach to team members how to win by having high morale with high confidence (not over confidence) . I congrate you making a 1st fifty in international match. I pray, you will make much more than that a little one.
Dont go outside in the night, not snakes but also there can be something who can steel our asset of cricket.
With all much prayers for future contests to have heads high with proud in victories!
Proud to be a pakistani!
Bravo!
Posted by: Hammad Siddiqi, Cincinnati Ohio at May 7, 2008 9:45 PM
Chin up Urooj! As a huge fan of Pakistan cricket, I was delighted when you ladies qualified for the world cup but like yourself and no doubt every Pakistani, I have been dismayed by the succession of losses. However, I'm not a fair weather fan and I believe you have the talent and class in this team to win matches; so COME ON LADIES, DUST YOURSELVES OFF AND LET'S KICK SOME ASS!! GO PAKISTAN!!
Posted by: Faisal Shafiq at May 8, 2008 6:26 PM
I found your article very insightful on womens cricket in Pakistan and how it is developing. While losing 4/4 is not a good result , I believe womens cricket in Pakistan is now headed in the right direction and considerable strides have been made in the last two year. Hopefully one day our womens team will start winning games on a regular basis.
Posted by: maani from north cyprus at May 10, 2008 6:05 AM
hey captain! i love ur attitude n ur guls attitude.look there is nothing like trying n trying hard.look whether u people lose or win doesnt matter for me .the thing which i want is to fite n fite hard.rest leave to Allah.look dere will b more bad times than this never think dat u cannot come out of dat.but trust me i m dire heart fan of pak cricket .the country i live has no coverage for cricket so weneva pak win(mmen/guls) i start dance i have no control ova ma emotions.but just trust i wud b da last guy on earth who will lose hope in u guys.put up ur best leave the rest.wish u the very best not just cricket bcoz ur making us proud by representing in tha world as embassadors as everybody is thinking just bad but u people r still showing tha world the briter side of pak.congrats.dua go.....imran
Mithali Raj, India's captain, has been on the international circuit for nearly a decade. In August 2006 she led the side to their first-ever Test and series victory in England and wrapped up the year winning the Asia Cup - the second time in 12 months - without dropping a single game. India, under her captaincy, also reached the World Cup final in 2005 and she will be hoping she can do the same next year but before she can do that she has to tackle the Asia Cup, a tour of England and the small matter of a Twenty20 World Cup.
Urooj Mumtaz managed to juggle a course in dentistry along with captaining Pakistan. Their most recent triumph was qualifying for the World Cup next year and the 22-year old Urooj will lead a young team to Australia in hope of creating a favourable impression of the Pakistan women's team among the other sides as well as back home. A legspinner, she has a hat-trick against Zimbabwe.
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