Pak women's cricket team 'progressing well' following World T20 qualification

The team manager of the Pakistani women's cricket team has backed the side, saying that it is 'progressing well' following the side's sharing the ICC Women's World Twenty20 Qualifier title with Sri Lanka in Ireland.

According to the Express Tribune, the squad remained unbeaten in the event and booked their berth in next year's World Twenty20 in Bangladesh by reaching the final, which was washed out due to rain.

The report further said that the team also leveled their Twenty20 series with England besides defeating England Academy and Ireland earlier on the marathon tour.

Defining the tour as 'highly constructive' for Pakistan, team manager Ayesha Ashar said the team's performance in the qualifier was helped by their hard work, adding that reaching the finals without losing any game proved that the team is progressing well.

Ashar further said that the Pakistani women cricketers have started entering slots of the top ten players according to the Twenty20 rankings, which placed all-rounder Bismah Marof at the sixth place and Sadia Yousuf at the fifth bowler position.

According to Ashar, beating England in a T20 game had lifted the Pakistani team's morale given that England is a high-profile side, adding that that the tour was a confidence boosting assignment as the team faced different opponents during the tour, which gave them valuable experience.

However, Ashar said that she was disappointed due to the abandoned final, adding that it was unfortunate that the game could not be finished as Pakistan had become the favourites to win the final after scoring 112.

Meanwhile, Ashar commended the team's former batting consultant Basit Ali, who resigned after the tour's completion, for his effort towards the side, saying that Ali worked hard with the team like the rest of the coaching staff.

Ashar further said that the presence of an individual with heavy credentials like Ali made a vast difference to the team, adding that Ali got ample opportunity to succeed in raising the quality of the side.