It was a terribly disappointing day for us against India and not the start that we dreamed off when we headed to the ground this morning. We didn’t play to our potential in any aspect of the game and it really was a very bad day at the office.
I think the pressure of the occasion got to us, with all our players making their debut in a World Cup, and that was shown through some poor shot selection by the top-order batting.
In the warm-up game against New Zealand, who I think is a similar standard to India, we showed that we can make runs against the best teams which makes it even more disappointing to not get the result that we wanted to today.
At 25 for 7 I really feared what would happen, but at least our eighth-wicket partnership added some runs to our total. We also didn’t bowl as well as we know we can, so we have to improve our performance in all aspects of our game in the next matches.
This afternoon we spent some time practising on the outfield to try and restore some of our confidence, just getting the feel of the ball on the middle of the bat.
It might not seem much, but just getting your confidence back and proving to yourself that you are capable of scoring runs is important when you have suffered a heavy defeat.
We know the result won’t be received particularly well back at home, particularly as it was against India, but we hope that people in Pakistan continue supporting us.
We were lucky enough to have some very vocal backing at the match today from quite a few Pakistani supporters and they have said they will be coming to watch our vital match against Sri Lanka on Monday.
The last time a Pakistan side came to Australia for a World Cup in cricket, they didn’t get off to a very good start and went onto win the men’s event in 1992, so hopefully we can use that team as an inspiration to improve our performances later in the tournament. I am very confident that we can bounce back against Sri Lanka and get through to the Super Sixes.
Despite all the disappointment, it was still very special to play my first match at a World Cup and also to be at Bowral, the home of Sir Donald Bradman, and one of the greatest players to play the sport.
If only we could have batted like him during the match, things could have been very different!
Posted by: Muhammad Saad Mazhar at March 7, 2009 10:10 AM
Hi Urooj,
Don't be disappointed !! As a passionate supporter of Pakistani Cricket, I just want you guys to put your best in the field.
I'm sure you'll do good in the next matches. Win Or Loss doesn't matter. Just be there and put your best.
Posted by: N. Manilal at March 7, 2009 10:38 AM
Congratulations to India for the terrific performance.
Posted by: prakash at March 7, 2009 10:44 AM
Way to go Pakistan....
Posted by: aurangzeb at March 7, 2009 11:24 AM
Hello dear Urooj
Dont worry this is part of game but u should try ur best to give 100 % play positive game without any kind of pressure and dont forget u all are representing Pakistan so work so hard and plan your game before u enter in the ground i hope green shirts will be give us good results in other matches ok wish u good luck
Posted by: aurangzeb at March 7, 2009 11:25 AM
Hello dear Urooj
Dont worry this is part of game but u should try ur best to give 100 % play positive game without any kind of pressure and dont forget u all are representing Pakistan so work so hard and plan your game before u enter in the ground i hope green shirts will be give us good results in other matches ok wish u good luck
Posted by: conryn at March 7, 2009 11:44 AM
Put in your Best Pakistan for your next game... ALL THE BEST.
Posted by: Sunil at March 7, 2009 11:52 AM
Congrats to indian team on confident start. Hopefully they'll go all the way. Prakash, we mustn't sound jealous of our neighbours, it deosn't potrey us in good light.
Posted by: Murtaza Maqbool at March 7, 2009 12:01 PM
hey urooj, i know you n Pakistan will win on Monday.just forget what happened against India. Just keep one thing in mind that you still have two matches in this world cup n u will get many oppurtunities ahead also
Posted by: mudit at March 7, 2009 12:12 PM
well done India. may u lift the world cup and do what ur male couterparts couldn't do.
Posted by: Aniket at March 7, 2009 12:15 PM
This is just the beginning..m sure u'll do well in the next games. The start is always tough..wats important is to fight back....best of luck!!
Posted by: OLD FRIEND NADINE at March 7, 2009 12:21 PM
HI UROOJ
HARD LUCK JUST BE READY FOR THE NEXT GAME
HEY HAVE FUN
HI DOC LONG TIME
Posted by: Syed Faraz Iqbal at March 7, 2009 12:44 PM
The passion to "Rise & Shine" is quite obvious through your note and i wish you good luck for forthcoming matches....!!!
Pakistan Zindabad
Posted by: Israr at March 7, 2009 12:45 PM
Well written, Urooj. I am sure you girls are good enough to perform better. Its very refreshing for everybody to see Pakistani girls playing at this level and even more so to have someone well-educated like you at the helm. Go Pakistan!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: Israr at March 7, 2009 12:47 PM
I love your kits. They are probably the best green ones we have seen so far.
Posted by: shahid at March 7, 2009 12:51 PM
Hi urooj, bad luck but hope for a better performance in coming matches. After such a heavy defeat and the shattered confidence, Sana should be promoted to nr. 3 spot in very next match, not because she stayed there and faced 50 odd ball but because she is the only one will be coming out with some confidence.
Posted by: S. Gillani at March 7, 2009 2:01 PM
Hello Urooj,
I recide in Atlanta, GA and am a die hard cricket follower. I followed ur last 3 nation as well. Prospects are really good. It is just a matter of few good innings and u all will gain ur confidence back. World Cup is sure put lot of pressure. Just keep ur calm and as u quoted... the right shot selection and u will c positive results. Pakistanis are good in bouncing back and that is why worldwide....Pakistan is considered to be a dangerous team. I have full confidence that we will do good against Srilanka on monday. Good Luck!!!!
Posted by: FURQAN IQBAL at March 7, 2009 2:51 PM
hi urooj donot lose ur hope all pakistani people r behind u soo try ur bst & gud luck of the matches
Posted by: Shan at March 7, 2009 3:08 PM
Bravo INDIA! Jhulan you rock! Congrats brave ladies for thrashing Pakis! way to go, keep it up, we need the world cup! All the best India. India zindabad!
Posted by: umairn at March 7, 2009 3:08 PM
With all thats going on in Pakistan cricket, its a pleasure to see our women's team be part of the world cup! Win or lose is part of the game, what's important is for the Pakistan Women Cricket team to give their all and enjoy themselves! The wins will come!
Pakistan zindabad!
Posted by: NEEL at March 7, 2009 3:09 PM
Great Performances from Indian side..All the best for rest of the tournament. Hopefully we can see Jhulan Goswami lifting the WC this time for India.
Hard luck to Pakistan team. You are just carrying what the men's team have done (never beaten India in WC) :-)
Posted by: zaeem at March 7, 2009 4:44 PM
Don't worry win or loss is in GOD's hands your job is give your best and we and whole nation is praying for all of you to do well and give name to Pakistan. Our poor people are struggled because of incident happened to srilankan team give a good news to us entering in the super sixes. I hope all of you will do your level best. I am praying for all of you. Have fun give your 200%.
Posted by: Pankaj Kasana at March 7, 2009 5:19 PM
All the best India. Come home with World Cup. Go for it. Best wishes for Pak team too. Play hard and meet India in final. Don't lose hope.
Posted by: Dasan at March 7, 2009 6:30 PM
Well done India! Good luck Pakistan in your next match against Srilanka!
Posted by: Dasan at March 7, 2009 6:30 PM
Well done India! Good luck Pakistan in your next match against Srilanka!
Posted by: Jitendra at March 7, 2009 7:39 PM
A very nice article on the great game of cricket.
As usual for Pakistan, wearing very nice threads. Wish you a better game next time, and hoping for an India - Pak final.
Posted by: Mariam at March 7, 2009 10:07 PM
We are all proud of you and your team Urooj! You girls are making history for female cric in Pakistan...playing the WorldCup is a huge step and we all are praying for you back home. Just put in your 100% effort and try to play to the best of your abilities...You girls can do it!! Goodluck!! Pakistan Zinabad!
Posted by: S.Haider at March 7, 2009 10:29 PM
Hi Urooj,
If prayers and wishes could win matches than i m sure Pakistan would never lose a match. But an important element that i felt seriously lacking was "TALENT". Dont get me wrong but seeing the way our neighbours over powered our team in all the three aspects of the game I think all Pakistani team can take from this World Cup is some experience. Anyways best of Luck for the future.
Posted by: farookh at March 7, 2009 10:56 PM
The Indian team is doing good.The pakistan team should try harder in next game.
Posted by: Naveed at March 7, 2009 10:58 PM
My dear pakistani team mates...no need to be disappointed...jus do ur best for de rest of the matches...its experience that matters...get all u can..and wish u great luck in the future games....supporint you all..always...
Posted by: Anonymous at March 8, 2009 1:27 AM
Well done India! And good luck Pakistan!
Posted by: Rehan Mukhtar at March 8, 2009 7:25 AM
I am great fan of Sana Mir. Wanna meet and propose her ..!
Posted by: faraz at March 8, 2009 7:58 AM
Hiiiiiiiiii Urooj, nener mind this is part of the game one has to win.i really pray for pakistan cricket which is going from a very bad time right now....cricket has no borders and i hope that a win from ur side can really boost the confidence of pakistani people back home!i am an indian but i want to see that the game of cricket always continue between this two brothers....inshallah!after every night there is new day waiting for everyone so don't worry give ur best and leave the result for destiny! A message from an Indian to our Pakistani friends!
Posted by: Fawad at March 8, 2009 11:52 AM
hi urooj
I am happy that you guys are atleast represent pakistan. Enjoy your sport and put in your best effort thats what we like to see. Inshallah you will win on Monday our prayers are with you
Posted by: Abdullah at March 8, 2009 2:05 PM
Well first of all congrats's to you Urooj and your team for making it to the world cup. We aren't expecting you to do miracles but at least play up to your potential. Cricket is not only about technique or experience but also confidence and self believe. So forget about your past and just show your country what you all are capable of. So Good luck and keep trying..
Posted by: Murtaza Maqbool at March 8, 2009 3:26 PM
see urooj, everybody lost hope when pakistan played the world cup in australia last time, but we won at the end, inshallah u'll come with another world cup trophy...best of luck urooj
Posted by: ajith at March 8, 2009 6:39 PM
Don't lose heart! Work hard... give your best always! good luck!
Posted by: Fans in the US at March 8, 2009 8:27 PM
Dear Pakistan team - We are keenly following your progress. Good luck in the coming matches. Just remember that victory in the experience as well as on the score card.
Posted by: Vishy at March 9, 2009 4:17 AM
Hi, the fact that you played in WC is a victory in itself!! May be you will do well against SL and go to next stage!! That, given pretorunament expectations, would be a victory in itself!
That said, well done India!! May be you will win the WC and do to women's cricket in India, what 1983 win did to the men's game.
Posted by: ijaz azeem at March 9, 2009 5:02 AM
hi dont worry about the game wth India. Just go do ur best and Belive in ur abilities. I am sure you can win from anyone.
Posted by: Azhar Hussain at March 9, 2009 9:10 AM
We are back. Pakistan played to their potential and beat Sri Lanka for the first time in 4 years and kept their hopes alive for reaching the super sixes stage. Well Done Pakistan. The team played as a team and had the blessings and duas of the whole nation. You all have made us proud at a time when things are not going well for Pakistan Cricket. Keep up the good work and one piece of advice, Bat full 50 overs against England to improve the average and win the game.
Azhar.
Posted by: Rehan Mukhtar at March 10, 2009 11:49 AM
SANA MIR ... WILL U MARRY ME!??
Posted by: aisha at March 10, 2009 8:20 PM
good going ladies.having played cricket all my life and getting credit for it,its nice to know girls are are now being apriciated and are standing with thier male counterparts.goodluck for the match against england.try and bat through the 50 overs.england are a strong opponent but not unbeatable.partnerships will do you well.g'luk.say my salam to sana.tell her its from her old collage friend.
Posted by: viqar siddiqui at March 11, 2009 5:16 AM
Buck up girls- do ur best- we are rooting for u- by the way well Done against SL- Keep yr eyes on the ball and you do nothing wrong. Chins up!
Mithali Raj, India's former captain, has been on the international circuit for a decade. In August 2006, she led India to their first-ever Test and series win in England and capped off the year by winning the Asia Cup - the second time in 12 months - without dropping a game. India, under her captaincy, also reached the World Cup final in 2005. Now, as one of the senior members of the side, and the premier batsman, a lot will be riding on her for the two World Cups - 50-over and Twenty20 - that India will play in 2009.
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.
Cri-zelda Brits became South Africa’s captain at the age of 23, standing in for Shandre Fritze in the home series against Pakistan in 2007. She followed this by captaining the side to a 3-0 series whitewash against the Netherlands as well as winning the first-ever Test between the two sides by 159 runs. In 2008 she scored her maiden ODI hundred and led South Africa to a spot in the World Cup after beating Pakistan in the Qualifiers final in Stellenbosch. She also coaches the Northwest women's team, based in Potchefstroom, and runs her own academy.
Shelley Nitschke combines playing for Australia and her state with working in cricket, as a school officer. A useful spinner, her batting is also worth talking about – she has developed into a handy allrounder. Her major achievements to date are winning the 2005 World Cup, taking 7 for 24 against England in Kidderminster in 2005 and being nominated for the ICC Women's Player of the Year in 2006-07. Although she has played netball, softball and basketball, cricket has always been her stand-out sport.
Ebony Rainford-Brent made history as one of eight England players to be handed a Chance to Shine coaching contract, allowing her flexibility around training. A top-order batsman, she fought back from what doctors thought was a career-killing back injury and could one day bowl again – calling her determined is an understatement. She is on the Surrey Academy and her Super 4s side is Diamonds. Proficient in basketball and athletics, she settled for playing cricket … and the drums.
Haidee Tiffen has played for New Zealand for more than ten years and is now their captain, having begun her career with Otago Under-21s before heading to Canterbury. She has played representational hockey, basketball and rugby – but cricket is her passion and won out over New Zealand junior hockey. She is particularly proud of winning the World Cup in 2000, reaching the 100-ODI milestone and being skipper. Her experience also includes playing for Sussex for two winters and she was also part of the first female academy in Lincoln. Somehow she also finds time to teach Health and PE at Hillmorton High School.
Isobel Joyce,a class bat with a steely mentality, comes from a family full of cricketers - twin sister Cecilia plays alongside her for Ireland and brother Dom for the men’s national team, while another brother, Ed, plays for England and Middlesex. Her first half-century came against a strong New Zealand attack in Dublin in 2004 and her figures of 4 for 20 helped her side beat Scotland by six wickets in the European Championship in 2001, where Ireland won all their three matches. Her 46 against Netherlands in the summer of 2007 helped to maintain her place in the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa. She was in outstanding form with both and ball during the tournament, scoring 148 runs at 37 and taking 10 wickets at an average of 7. She ran out five Pakistani players in Ireland's first match, before earning two successive Player-of-the-Match awards against Scotland and then Zimbabwe, against whom she scored 70 and took 4 for 10. She was named captain for their next series, against West Indies, after Heather Whelan pulled out because she was expecting.
Nadine George has been a regular for West Indies since her debut in 1999. She first led the side on their tour of Europe in June-July 2008, when West Indies thrashed Ireland and Netherlands while putting up a respectable performance against England. Nadine combines playing for West Indies and her national team, St.Lucia, with her day job as a Sergeant in the Police Marine Unit of the Royal St.Lucia Police Force. A left-hand batsman and wicketkeeper, Nadine says the highlights of her career are receiving an MBE at Buckingham Palace in 2005, being the first West Indies woman cricketer to score a century in a Test (in Pakistan in 2004), playing in the World Cup in South Africa (2005), and playing club cricket in Australia in 2006. Nadine also plays netball and volleyball and loves the marine environment and is passionate about diving. She is a qualified open water diver and during her working hours captains a 65 and 82 ft vessel. Her motto in life is "with hard work and dedication one can achieve".
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