New Delhi : The Indo-Pak rivalry will not just be limited to men come Saturday in the ICC World Twenty20 as the women’s teams from both the countries will also square off in a low-on-hype contest where the hosts will start firm favourites.
The in-form Indian women’s team and Pakistan will clash at the Ferozshah Kotla ground in their second Group B ICC World Twenty20 match here on Saturday, a few hours before their male counterparts lock horns in Kolkata.
With a dominating 5-1 record against Pakistan in T20Is and on the back of a thumping win in their tournament opener against Bangladesh, the Mithali Raj-led women’s team will definitely start favourites in the Group B fixture.
This Indo-Pak ICC World Twenty20 fixture is in total contrast to the other one which has been embroiled in controversies before the start of the tournament.
India and Pakistan women’s have played each other only in six Twenty20 Internationals, without much fanfare.
India last played Pakistan in the 2014 edition of World T20 in Bangladesh where the Mithali Raj-led eves managed to sneak out with a close six-run win over their arch-rivals and they would like to continue their good run.
Going by their present form and past record, the Indian eves are expected to get past their neighbours without much trouble before they take on top teams like England and West Indies in quest of the two semifinal sports up for grabs from their group.
Unlike previous edition where they were ousted in the group stages, the Indian eves are a contender this time around, courtesy their recent good showing in the T20 format which includes their historic 2-1 T20 away series win over mighty Australia in late January this year followed by the 3-0 whitewash of Sri Lanka in the run up to the ongoing World T20.
So far, the Indian eves have managed to live up to the expectations having thrashed a Bangladesh by 72 runs in their opener at M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore. In their tournament-opener in Bangalore, India managed to put on their highest T20I total of 163 for five and the hosts would like to carry on the good work to prolong their journey in the event.
Mithali (42 off 35 balls) is in rollicking form and led the team from the front. She was well supported by Harmanpreet Kaur (40 off 29), VR Vanitha (38 off 24) and Veda Krishnamurthy (36 not out off 24).
The Jhulan Goswami-led Indian bowling line-up too looked good and dished out a disciplined performance to restrict Bangladesh to 91 for five. On the other hand, Pakistan women lost their opening match by just four runs to the West Indies.
While Pakistan’s bowling unit produced a valiant performance, what let them down against West Indies was their batting as they failed to chase down a paltry target of 104.
Ahead of their marquee clash against India, Pakistan women were dealt a severe blow after all-rounder Javeria Khan was ruled out of the remainder of the tournament with a broken jaw after being hit by a bouncer during their World T20 opener against West Indies.
Well Played
New Delhi: Mindful of the storm triggered by Shahid Afridi’s comments about being loved more in India, Pakistan women’s cricket team captain Sana Mir said her team is adored more back home because it seldom gets a chance to play on its own turf.
“We really love playing here in India but we also love playing back home. In fact, we get love at home more and love playing back home more because we don’t get a chance to play at home,” Sana told reporters on the eve of the match against India.
Time to change history: Waqar
Kolkata : History may be against them but Pakistan coach Waqar Younis on Friday said the time is perfect to rewrite it given that the Indian team is under pressure after losing its opening match of the ICC World T20 against New Zealand.
Pakistan have never beaten their arch-rivals in an ICC World event with India having won six times in the ODI World Cup and four times in World Twenty20.
“No doubt history does not favour us but it’s not that it cannot be changed. History also changes,” said Younis on the eve the high-octane clash between India and Pakistan here.
“This time we are a bit more confident. One bad game and they (Indians) can go out of the tournament. Pressure is on India. It’s a plus for us. There’s a lot of things going in our favour,” the coach here.
Stressing that the heat is on India, Younis said: “Such discussions around the game creates hype and builds pressure. We all are aware of this. This is for the first time Indians are under more pressure. It’s a big tournament. I’ve been a cricketer for so many years and I don’t think there would be any team who’s not under pressure at this position. I’m sure they’re feeling the heat.”
Younis said that his team’s winning start against Bangladesh in their World Twenty20 opener gives them an edge.
“That’s the advantage you will get. It’s a huge worry for them (India) as it has added pressure on them. The monkey on our back is off now,” the 44-year-old insisted.
Pakistan, meanwhile, have an all-win record against India in four ODIs played here at the Eden gardens and Younis hoped to carry that record into the”Kolkata has always been kind to us.ot only on the field but off the field. History also suggests we are a better side here,” he said.
Younis, however, tried to play down the hype over the match, saying it’s just a sport. “First of all, let us take it as sport. Yes, we have a sporting history in rivalry,” he said. Shahid Afridi blasted 49 off just 19 balls against Bangladesh before chipping in with two wickets with his leg breaks and Younis feels the star allrounder’s return to form is the biggest plus point going into the big game on Saturday.
“We feel confident about the fact that no other team has posted 200 so far in this tournament. All our batsmen are in good form. Afridi bowling and batting was a real plus. I had said that Afridi was just one innings away from getting the form. If he plays with the same passion, it will be fine.”
Afridi has been missing from the media interactions since his pre-tournament news conference, where his comment about getting “more love in India than Pakistan” drew a lot of criticism back home.
Younis chose to play it down, joking: “Probably you ask him tough question.” Pakistan got a huge support in Kolkata in their last match and Younis was overwhelmed. “We feel we’re very welcome in Kolkata. People are really behind it. I’m sure they won’t be behind us tomorrow but will try to play the best cricket.”
The legendary pacer also heaped praise on their bowling attack and said Mohammad Amir’s return from exile was a big advantage. “The entire world knows that he’s somebody who can change the game with one spell. We take it as positive sign. We have got a good bowling attack. We need to put runs on the board.”
Younis said Pakistan have an upper hand as far as pace bowling is concerned.
“Jasprit Bumrah has been bowled nicely. He’s very young while (Ashish) Nehra coming really good. I think overall they’re balanced. We take a little bit edge with the pace. Our bowlers regularly bowl 145-plus which can be an added pressure for the Indians. If we bowl well like we did in the Asia Cup, it would be a good contest.”
On security arrangements, the coach said: “It’s all good at the moment. We’ve not left the hotel yet. It’s about hotel to stadium and back so far.”
Bigger than Ashes: Ashwin
Kolkata : Terming the India-Pakistan rivalry bigger than the Ashes, off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin on Friday asserted that the hosts were more focused on performing well in the World T20 rather than pondering over their opponents.
“This rivalry is huge. It is hard to say how huge it is. It is probably bigger than Ashes. As far as Indians and Pakistanis go, it is more of a border rivalry. Both teams want
“There is so much to the game rather than the game taking the centre stage. As far as people are concerned they put their emotions in the game. As a player it is about keeping the emotions aside.”
He also said the team is not under undue pressure whatsoever.
