Can I begin by thanking everybody for their comments and messages on my last blog. I read all of your words of encouragement and it was very much appreciated following the disappointment of Saturday’s defeat to India.
I promised to the people of Pakistan ahead of today’s game against Sri Lanka that we would bounce back and I don’t think anybody could have expected a better performance than the one we put in today. I said at the weekend, after our loss against India, that we didn’t play up to our potential and that we would be fine if we got things right in all three key departments – batting, bowling and fielding – and that is what we did today.
We have been waiting for years to beat Sri Lanka and it was the perfect day to win – the first time a Pakistan side had won in 19 matches against them and the first time Pakistan has won a match at the ICC Women’s World Cup. To be part of this moment of history and to captain the side makes me extremely proud. We know we have taken a vital step towards making it to the Super Six stage now, as Sri Lanka faces a difficult last match against India, so it is extremely exciting that we may get a chance to face the likes of Australia and New Zealand next week.
After registering a decent total against Sri Lanka, which could have been higher if any of the girls who got good starts had gone onto make a big score, we knew that we had to take early wickets. I got an excellent response from all of my bowlers, having made a conscious decision to hold back Asmavia Iqbal from the opening overs, and once we got some early breakthroughs I was always confident of victory.
There were a few tears coming out of my eyes at the end and it was a special moment to get this win in front of my parents. My father has really helped me with my game, while my mother is always very supportive of what I do.
To celebrate the victory tonight, some of the team are going to come out for dinner with my parents, while other players will be with their families, before we gather all together at the hotel for a celebration later on. We won’t go too crazy though as we know we have another important group match on Thursday.
We are all really looking forward to playing against England in our next match and I am excited that the game will be broadcast live on television. I hope that people at home will tune in to watch the match so that we can prove to people in Pakistan that women can play cricket.
Posted by: Azhar Hussain at March 9, 2009 10:26 AM
Well done. Congratulations to the Pakistan Womens Cricket team for their excellent team performance in overcoming an uphill task to beat Sri Lanka for the first time in four years. The whole of Pakistan is very proud of this accomplishment. All the blessings and the duas have paid dividends and we have achieved the first ever victory of the world cup. If we continue in the same manner in the match against the English team, we will definately qualify for the super sixes. Finally, the whole country and every Pakistani all over the world should be very proud to have a womens cricket team that can compete with the best. Best wishes and Good luck
Dr. Azhar.
Posted by: prakash at March 9, 2009 10:26 AM
Good show Urooj.. Well done.
Posted by: Ralph Zimmermann at March 9, 2009 10:35 AM
Congratulations - a great day for women's cricket in Pakistan!
Posted by: OLD FRIEND NADINE at March 9, 2009 11:10 AM
HI UROOJ
CONGRATS!!!!! U HAVE DONE IT. ENJOY AND HAVE FUN. CELEBRATE YOU DESERVE IT.
CONGRATS
NADINE
Posted by: Pakistan Rocks!!!! at March 9, 2009 11:43 AM
Congratulations Urooj,
You guys have really made us proud...Keep it up!!!
Do you have any idea..how can we see the highlights of the match or if anyone of you has made the videos of the winning moments and celebrations..Please share with us...
Posted by: Imran Iqbal at March 9, 2009 12:15 PM
Congratulation Girls... Keep up the Good Spirit and show the world that "U CAN"... Pakistan is so proud of you... Best of Luck for the future games. May Allah bless you all.
Imran
Posted by: Atif at March 9, 2009 12:40 PM
It was really a great victory. I am going to take my days off for your matches now. We are really proud of yoy. You have won world cup for us by winning this match.
Posted by: Awab Alvi at March 9, 2009 3:20 PM
Well done Urooj - hats off to the entire team - to have provided us here in a Pakistan atleast something to celebrate about !!! High Five for the remaining matches
Pakistan Zindabad
Posted by: Stani Army at March 9, 2009 4:31 PM
Congratulations to you Urooj and to the rest of the team. If you would like your posts on staniarmy.com please do let us know.
Posted by: Muhammad Saad Mazhar at March 9, 2009 5:40 PM
Urooj, Congratulations on a win, well deserved !!
Bouncing back after being shot out for 57 talks a lot about this team's character ... Best Wishes and Prayers for your match on 10th; if this team can win its first world cup match today, then it can give a seasoned England team tough time too ... Again regardless of the result, just believe in yourselves and give your best shot in the field ... Go Greens Go !!!
Posted by: Feroz at March 9, 2009 6:52 PM
Congratulations on a job well done. We are all proud of this accomplishment. This is not only a great moment for Pakistan women's cricket but for all the women in Pakistan. What an inspiration! Can't wait for the match with England, so that the world can know that the men's team or the Lahore Badshah's are NOT the only team Pakistan cricket fans can root for. Way to go!
Posted by: Farhan Hussain at March 9, 2009 9:51 PM
Congratulations !! Finally something to cheer about !! InshaAllah we will definitely watch the next match ... You guys have really made us proud ... Good Luck !! Show us a good fight .. Our prayers are with you guys .. ^_^
Posted by: Mariam at March 9, 2009 10:24 PM
Well Done girls! Each one of us is proud of you...Pakistan can do it, and will inshallah! Continue playing to your potential and have confidence in your abilities. We are all praying for you back home. GoodLuck!
Pakistan Zindabad
Posted by: Jehan Ara at March 10, 2009 1:36 AM
Yay - way to go girls! Congratulations. We are extremely proud of you all. Keep it up! You are in our prayers.
Posted by: Ali at March 10, 2009 2:13 AM
Hi Urooj,
Great WIN, You and your team has showed everyone that anything is possible. This is a great way to respond to the defeat against india.
For Pakistan women's cricket team participating in the world cup is a victory in it's own. But to win a game so strongly is astonishing.
To be honest can't see Pakistan winning to many games, but the confidence they have gained from this victory should show in the remaining games. They need to play a game were the other teams will not take them lightly.
I wish u all the best of luck in the remaining games as well as the future, as hopefully we'll get more girls interested in the game of cricket, after they have seen this victory against Srilanka.
Posted by: Fariha Akhtar at March 10, 2009 9:58 AM
Well done girls!! You've really made us all proud :) Best of luck for the upcoming matches!
Posted by: Sarah J at March 10, 2009 1:14 PM
Urooj Mumtaz Khan.....congratulations this is really big and amazing...i am soo happy for you....you guys finally did it woohooo i just hope and pray that u guys can make it to the super 6 now :) all the best and praying for u always woohooo
Posted by: Zios at March 11, 2009 3:23 AM
Well done! You girls made all Pakistan not only proud but brought a long awaited smile on every face. Good luck!... Cha Jao!! :-)
Posted by: Rizwan Younas at March 11, 2009 10:27 AM
Hello Urooj.We must appriciate that being a female member of pakistan soceity what job you and your team are doing for us. being a fan of the game and living in lahore, we had a terrible time in recent past which we all want to forget and your team is helping us to forget all that. Pakistan's particiaption in worldcup itself is an achievement for us , as it would raise our image as broad minded and sports loving nation. on the other hand any scuccess (which you already achieved)would motivate parents(like me)to encourage thier daughters to be more active in sports. Pay my warm regards to entire team and wish you luck for coming matches. for me you win or loose the coming matches, your job has already been accomplished. best regards, Rizwan.
Posted by: Swapna at March 11, 2009 1:40 PM
Very well done, Urooz!! I'm an Indian and wanna tell u tht I'm surprised to see a Pakistani women's cricket team. Tht itself a biggest achievement!!! Keep it up!!!
Posted by: Rafiq Khan at March 17, 2009 9:18 AM
Congratulations Urooj This is the very good work for Paistan to Create Girls Teams Thanks Again.
Posted by: Aadil Shahzad at March 24, 2009 1:04 PM
Great job! Keep it up. try to tackle spinners more. keep practicing spinners in the nets. If u over come this weakness no matter u can reach the final of any international competition.
Once again heartiest congratulations
Posted by: Muhammad Ifrahim khan at April 25, 2009 12:29 AM
pakistani team play well and some players are beautifull and i like some one
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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