Cricinfo - Blogs - Girls Aloud - We keep exceeding expectations

On a personal note, I was pleased with my own spell of bowling, and Bismah Maroof deserves special praise for her outstanding catch. If it had been a televised match then I think that it would have had to be one of the contenders for the catch of the year as she flung herself at full stretch to her left and managed to keep hold of the ball with one hand.

I was a bit concerned when we were reduced to 55 for 5, but I knew that Armaan Khan has the strength and power to hit the ball very hard and so my focus was just on giving her the strike while she accelerated our run rate. It was quite a big ground so it was an excellent accomplishment to hit two sixes.

It was a shame that I couldn’t stay in until the end and guide the team to victory, but the whole side was ecstatic at the end when the winning runs came.

When the game finished, we all tried to grab one of the stumps, and then we went over to salute our noisy supporters. I am not sure where they all came from but there was about 200 Pakistan fans there, making the noise of thousands, and they were singing and dancing and cheering every run. It was amazing to have that level of support from the fans.

It is very exciting that we will have the opportunity to play Australia and New Zealand in our next two matches. We know that if we are to improve our ranking in international cricket we need to have the opportunity to play the best sides in the world and having put in disappointing performances with the bat against India and England, we are determined to prove that we can score runs against the very best.

You learn things from competing against top quality opposition, so to have the opportunity to play against the likes of Karen Rolton, Lisa Sthalekar, Aimee Mason and Haidee Tiffen will be a great experience for all of us.

But are not going to be just standing in the field with our autograph books, just because we are in the presence of the game’s biggest names, and instead our focus will be on beating them. We think we have a good chance of finishing in the top four at this event and we can’t wait for our next game against Australia on Monday.

Hi Urooj !!!
Well done yet again ... many congrats ... no1 expected of such wonders from this team and yet here you are ... Job well done by demolishing 'Kali Aandhee' ... A win against Aust. tomorrow may even propel you towards a semi-final berth ... so still no time to relax ... Keep the mantra simple ... Play out your 50 overs and do not leak runs with the new ball ... At least this is what I saw in the 2 wins so far ...

Rest, you and your team should know that you've made the country proud, whatever the next two results may be ... May the Force be with you guys in the future too !!! Ameen

Urooj, back home, we are so, so, SO proud of you and your team! Yesterday, the first thing I did after logging on was to check the match result and although I was really surprised to see you girls knock down the West Indies, I was equally ecstatic. What a performance! Especially from Almas and Armaan. I hope you guys give spirited performances against the Aussies and Kiwis too. Rest assured, we are all praying for your team's success. You have done what the star-studded men's team couldn't do at the last world cup :)

Go girls, make us proud :)
You are a silver lining in a dark cloud for Pakistan at the moment. We might not be out there to support you, but we are cheering your every move & wishing you success in every match. Give this tournament all the energy you have & let me assure you, you will achieve what no one expected from you. Get into the groove of ruthless professionalism & make your opponents suffer defeat, no matter who & what they are. Never EVER lose hope & boost your confidences through restless motivation.
Wish yours team bestest of luck!

Well done, One down, two to go. But whatever is the result in the next two games, you all have already surpassed all the expectations and have made us very very proud. Just play positive cricket and you all will have nothing to worry about. Just remember that even though, the Australian team has big names in their team, in cricket, only that team wins who performs well on that day. You all are on a high and therefore keep up the momentum and do your best. We are all cheering for you all. Once again, great job and keep it up.
Azhar

You've done it ... and alot more coming your way !!
The moment I read the news about the victory over the windies ... I yelled so loud out in my office in joy that I had this feeling that you girls might have heard the scream aswell =)(lucky me - there were no much people around me at that hour of the day) .. Being a brother of Bismah Maroof I am so content to read about the crucial catch she took off your bowling (I wish if you could get me the last match pictures somehow) ... Everyone is praying for the team and dont ever worry about the support .. you girls have (160x2)million hands being raised for your success every time .. make us proud again .. and we salute your achievements so far .. I wish you all the best for upcoming games .. just give out your best and have faith !!

PS. Please give a pat on the back of Bismah and my sincere wishes to the entire team.

Hello!!!
I am really really proud of u guys, u hve surpassed every ones expecations, but this doesnt mean tht u guys become complacent. U shld infact further tune up ur game, against the Aussies. The Aussies must be dissapointed after there loss to India, and will be coming out with a definite plan to seal a place in the top two. People there are no semi finals in this world, the top two teams will play against each other in the finals. Urooj you guys have done MAshaAllah say really well, but batting is the biggest area of concern for our team, so we need to focus more on this area.
We all support you!! =)

We are extremely proud of you all. You have been a beacon of light in these gloomy days. I have been following the women's team for a while, and the improvements you have shown over the last 2-3 years is commendable. Just shows what hardwork and dedication can achieve. We are all rooting for you. Go out there and give it your best. You're all heroes (or heroines i should say) of the country. You have acheived what the men's team hasnt achieved for 10 years. Best of luck. I hope we qualify for the next world cup by coming in the top 4

Great Job Done By Urooj & Company. No Matter What Would Be The Result Of Remaining Two Matches, You Have Already Shown The World That Talent Has No Limits. As Ali Maroof Rightly Mentioned That Every Pakistani Is Supporting His Team. Thus ; Give Your 100% In Game & Don't Even Worry About The Result. Because When It Comes To Spirit ; Result Merely Matters. Good Luck For Today's Match & All The Best ...

Regards,

Urooj: Thank you to you and the rest of your squad - in these bleak days (Pakistan Cricket at the center of it especially), you and your bunch are a glimmer of hope. Thank you for such great performances all of you and Keep it up! My entire family is praying for Team Pakistan's success - well done! you guys are sophomores and to get this far is an achievement in itself.

Yo go girl(s)!

Faraz
Toronto,Canada

Hi Urooj and All team,

Congrats! great piece of work. All of the team members have shown great power, wits, and courage towards the success.
Now that you are meeting Australian team in the next game, they do have big names in the team but keep in mind just one thing " you have got power, skills and wits to beat'em."

I thank you for your team's great performance.

Bravo Girls - we were there, just as we were there when Pakistan won the world cup in Melbourne 1992. You have made us extremely proud, as previous contributors have been saying "YOU ARE A SILVER LINING IN A DARK CLOUD FOR PAKISTAN" at the moment. At last something positive came out of Pakistan - GOD BLESS PAKISTAN. Keep up the good work. You have done better than the boys - they couldn't get to Super Six's stage.From now on win or loose doesn't matter - just give your best. Cannot praise you girls enough - "TOP PERFORMANCE". We will be there to support you for rest of the matches cheering and chanting as just we did on Saturday. GOOD LUCK.

Hi
We are really proud of you as you have done wonders for Pakistan by beating some of the best team in the world in this World Cup.One more win and your team are in for a berth in semis..very well done and deserve all the appreciation from our country men.
Best of luck in your next match and I will watch this match seating in Toronto Canada.

Keep doing well and keep improving in each and every match you play.
At least we have some thing to cheer about at this very difficult and unfortunate moment in our country's history.

Waqar Toronto Canada

Thank God/Allah for the Pakistan Women's team! They are fresh, clean, and offer quality cricket at a time when the men's game is in nearly complete turmoil. My only regret is that only the North Sydney Oval matches are televised, so the world largely missed out on the victory over West Indies. From what I have seen of the televised matches, the sport is healthy and growing in a beautiful way amongst the women. This is how I remembered men's cricket when I was first introduced to the game in South Africa just prior to the 2003 World Cup. So much of the purity and innocence has been lost since then. The men could learn much from the women about reblancing the game and its priorities.

Well done girls or shall I say Cheeteees.Round of applause for an all round performance by the pakistani girls. We are really proud of you.
By doing better than what was expected doesnt not mean you girls feel satisified by 2 victories. This is not the end but another begingging. I have full faith that we can win the world cup.
Nevertheless,Pakistan Womens' have to work hard as far as batting is concerned on aussie pitches.We have to chase down or set targets of above at least 220.

May Allah be with you girls and knock down the aussies tonight..

Regards,
Saloo

Hi Urooj,

First of all many congrats on victory against formadible westindies side, it is just not victory in cricket field it is a victory of pakistani women in any field and for showing world that pakistani women is capable of doing anything like any other women of anyother country, i live in united states here preception of pakistani women is just like an oppressed entity and you guys prooving it wrong so hats off and three cheers to all of you and specially you for serving two purpose at a time one as pakistani cricket team captain and other is presenting a real pakistani women in front of the whole world i wish you all the very best for tournament victory keep my finger cross.

Good luck.
Mujeeb

Awesum girls awesome! Im sorry i cudnt follow ur matches on t.v cuz of exams but i check ur matches nd ur blog on cricinfo daily. Everyone i meet iz greeted by the newz of this really really special victory. I think u guyz r working wonderz for the country! keep doing so we r all very proud of u! for the first tym every1 around iz talking abt the womens team. U hv all the backing u need from the country. I pray for u guyz daily nd hope u achieve more success in lyf nd womens cricket becomes more popular nd accepted so ppl lyk me can also join u in the team!

Good job in this world cup!!!

We are playing Westindies for a fifth place now and a win will again give Pakistan fans and players alike a huge boost.

Pakistan indeed has exceeded all expectations in this World cup, but still as we all know, is a long way from the top 4 teams of the world. We have a young team which can get alot mature in years to come and can show improved performances over the course of time. The main problem seems to be the batting. We never looked like scoring 200. The game has changed so much and now more and more singles are taken and less dot balls. This thing can alone take score past 150. We need to have players who can bat through the innings without throwing a good start.

These things apart, Pakistani team has achieved something which, hopefully, will spark interest in women in Pakistan and we may see more talented players coming into the fold.

Ladies you have made us all proud.... keep up the good work!!!