Facing strong opponents vital for Pakistan women cricket team’s growth | Sports

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Today marks the end of the Women’s T20 World Cup 2025 held in India. The Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team ended the tournament undefeated.

Throughout the tournament, Pakistan faced tough challenges, including a 7-wicket drubbing by Bangladesh, 88 runs to 88 by India, and heavy defeats against Australia and South Africa by 108 and 150 runs, respectively. Notably, three of their matches against England, New Zealand and Sri Lanka were washed out by the weather, which may have affected their overall impact.

The performance of the Pakistan women’s cricket team at the international stage has been a subject of concern and analysis for many cricket enthusiasts and analysts. Despite occasional flashes of brilliance, the team has consistently struggled to meet the standards set by their counterparts.

Inconsistent team selection, frequent coaching changes, and lack of stability have contributed to the inability to establish a core group of capable and experienced players.

The Pakistan Women’s team, despite playing international cricket for over a decade and a half, has never reached the top five. The Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team made its One Day International debut in 1997, but never qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup.

The Green Shirts have so far failed to win a match against the top three teams: England, Australia and New Zealand. Even with other teams, their record is not that impressive.

Against arch-rival India, the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team has never won an ODI in the 12 matches played between the two teams.

In total, the Pakistan Women’s team has played 220 ODIs so far, winning only 65 matches and losing 148. They are placed at the eighth position in the ICC ODI rankings while India is at the third position.

The Pakistan Women’s team has not received recognition in the international circuit because the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not provided the same resources, funding and institutional support for the women’s national team as it has for the men’s team. This includes inadequate training facilities, coaching, and exposure to high-level international competition.

Improving infrastructure, breaking down social barriers, providing more opportunities and ensuring consistent governance and support are essential steps in this direction.

With the right investment and cultural change, Pakistan has the potential to develop a competitive women’s cricket team that can be among the best in the world. However, this will require a concerted effort by all stakeholders including the PCB, government and society to create an environment where women’s cricket can flourish.

Absence of dedicated cricket academies and proper foundations hampers the development of players from an early age, and puts them at a disadvantage compared to their international counterparts.

Lack of professional opportunities and financial incentives add to the challenges faced by the Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team. This lack of financial stability forces many talented players to abandon their cricketing careers in favor of more stable and lucrative professions. Absence of a strong domestic cricket structure also means fewer opportunities for players to gain competitive experience.

The PCB’s commitment to women’s cricket has sometimes been questioned with limited investment in grassroots development, coaching, and player welfare. Without constant and consistent support from the governing body, it is difficult for a team to compete at a high level.

Australia, England and India have invested heavily in their women’s teams, providing them with state-of-the-art facilities, professional contracts and comprehensive domestic leagues. These investments have translated into better performance and greater competitiveness on the international stage. To close Pakistan’s gap, a similar commitment and investment is needed.

In contrast, the Pakistan women’s cricket team has faced a number of challenges that have hindered its ability to compete at the same level.

Effective coaching is vital to the development of any sports team. The Pakistan Women’s Cricket Team has faced challenges in securing high-quality coaching staff and development programs.

Absence of experienced coaches and structured development programs in Pakistan limits players’ ability to grow and develop skills. Without access to quality coaching, players struggle to develop their technique and understanding of the game, leading to inconsistent performances on the international stage.

Currently, Pakistan’s women cricketers play most of their matches in familiar subcontinental conditions, which limit their ability to adapt to fast pitches, bouncy tracks and harsh weather abroad. Without regular exposure to such an environment, players struggle to adjust their game plans and techniques when facing strong opponents in major tournaments.

Top teams like Australia, England and South Africa have home systems and frequent international tours that sharpen the competitiveness of their players. Pakistani women need similar opportunities to gain experience and flexibility. The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has to prioritize arranging overseas bilateral series and training camps to bridge this gap.

Constant competition against elite teams will not only enhance the players’ skills but also strengthen their mental toughness and game awareness. Only through consistent international exposure can Pakistan women’s cricket truly thrive and emerge as a formidable force on the global stage.

One of the major reasons behind the poor performance of the Pakistan women’s cricket team in international tournaments lies deep in the cultural fabric of our society. In many parts of Pakistan, women are still discouraged from participating in outdoor sports. Traditional attitudes often limit them to domestic roles, and consider athletic pursuits inappropriate or unnecessary for women. As a result, adolescent girls rarely have opportunities, encouragement or facilities from an early age.

Competing internationally requires not only skills, but also mental strength, cultural adaptation and regular participation in foreign tours. When female athletes grow up in an environment where mobility and autonomy are restricted, they face enormous psychological and social barriers to performing under international pressure.

To truly develop women’s cricket, Pakistan must challenge these societal norms. Families, educational institutions and policy makers need to support and normalize women’s participation in sports. Only when equal opportunities are given from the grassroots level will Pakistan’s women cricketers be able to compete on an equal footing with their international counterparts.

Efforts are being made to promote women’s cricket in Pakistan, but significant progress is still needed to close the gap between the Pakistan team and its more successful counterparts such as India, Australia, South Africa and England.

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) should take women seriously, start a young cricketers hunting program and provide good facilities and infrastructure to develop the skills of women cricketers.

The performance of the Pakistan women’s cricket team cannot improve significantly unless they regularly play against top international sides like Australia, England, South Africa and New Zealand.

Zeeland – specifically their home base.

Competing against world-class teams in foreign conditions is essential to develop the technical skills, confidence and temperament required at a high level.

khurms87@yahoo.com