ICC Women’s World Cup: Pakistan ready to face India in first match

KARCHI: Pakistan women cricket captain Bismah Maroof said on Saturday the team is gearing up to open their ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 campaign with a match against India.
The ICC Women’s World Cup 2022 is the 12th edition of the Women’s Cricket World Cup, and is being held in New Zealand from March 4 to April 3.
The Pakistani team will face India at the Bay Oval cricket ground in Mount Maunganui, Tauranga, on Sunday at 6 a.m. Pakistan time.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement the team had capped weeks of preparations with solid victories against the hosts and Bangladesh in the warm-ups, and is entering the tournament “high on confidence” and optimistic about their chances.
“Everyone is looking forward (to the match against India),” Maroof said, as quoted by the PCB. “It is our first match of the tournament, and we want to win it so we gain the momentum.”
“In such tournaments, it is very important to start good and carry the moment, and, of course, that increases the significance of the first match. I am sure we will be able to meet expectations from us.”
Diana Baig, who will spearhead Pakistan’s pace attack, said the atmosphere in the team is very good.
“We have been putting in the hard yards since our camp in Karachi and now is the time to deliver,” she said. “This is a big moment for us to leave a mark.”
In their next match, Pakistan are scheduled to face Australia on March 8, and South Africa on March 11, also at the Tauranga stadium.
They will play against Bangladesh in Hamilton on March 14, and West Indies on March 21.
On March 24, they are going to play England, and New Zealand on March 26 in Wellington.
The tournament’s final game will be played in Christchurch on April 3.