ISLAMABAD: Bismah Maroof, captain of the Pakistan women’s cricket team, is set to become the most capped Pakistani woman cricketer in ODIs when she plays the final fixture of the three-match series against Ireland on Wednesday, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) confirmed.
Pakistan will take on Ireland at the Qaddafi Stadium in Lahore on Wednesday. The hosts are already 2-0 up in the series and will be eyeing a whitewash when the two sides take the field.
After the ODI series, both sides will meet again in the three T20Is at the same venue from 12 to 16 November.
Maroof, who has appeared in 120 ODIs so far, will surpass former Pakistan captain Sana Mir and play her 121st ODI against Ireland. This will make her the most capped ODI women’s cricketer for Pakistan.
During the final ODI, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof will enter the record books as the country’s most capped player in women’s ODIs,” the PCB said on Tuesday.
“It is a great honor to represent Pakistan. After becoming a mother and since my comeback, I am grateful to my parents and my husband who have supported me in continuing my cricket journey,” Maroof told PCB Digital.
She praised ex-cricketer Mir, saying the former cricketer had groomed her and others who played under her a lot. “I have remained vice-captain under her and it helped me improve a lot,” she added.
Lahore-born Maroof made her ODI debut at the age of 15 against India in Jaipur in the Women’s Asia Cup in December 2006. Her 43 runs in the match was the second-highest score for the side after Sajjida Shah’s 44. In 120 ODIs, Bismah has scored 2,960 runs (most by a Pakistan batter in the format) at 29.89, which includes 17 half-centuries.
Maroof captained the ODI side for the first time in 2013 and has led the team in 30 ODIs, scoring 958 runs. She requires another 42 runs to become the second Pakistan captain after Mir (1,069) to score 1,000 ODI runs as skipper. Under Maroof’s captaincy, Pakistan have won 15 matches, lost 13 matches, and tied one match, while one game was abandoned due to rain.
