LAHORE: After winning the three-match ODI series 3-0, Pakistan will eye for another clean sweep over Ireland when both sides meet on Saturday (tomorrow) at Lahore’s Gaddafi Stadium for the first of the three T20Is. The second and third T20I will be played on 14 and 16 November.
Both teams have so far played 15 T20Is against each other, with the hosts winning 13 while the tourists overcoming the former in two games. The last time these two sides faced off in a T20I was in the tri-nation tournament held in Ireland in July this year where Australia were the third team. Pakistan and Ireland were involved in two matches in the tri-series with Pakistan winning the first one by 13 runs on DLS while the second match was abandoned due to rain. Tomorrow’s match will be the first T20I between the two sides in Pakistan.
In the current ICC Women’s T20I Rankings, Pakistan are placed sixth, four places ahead of Ireland. In the T20I rankings, Nida Dar – who was named ICC Player of the Month for October for her all-round performance – occupies the sixth spot in the all-rounders’ rankings and 16th in the bowlers’ rankings.
Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof said:
“We are looking forward to an exciting series with Ireland. The T20 World Cup is around the corner the series will help us to formalize our squad.
“Sidra Amin has performed exceptionally well, she has worked really hard on her fitness and it reflects in her batting. I am hoping she continues to perform the same way and helps the team win in the future.
“We have this series to try out our combination for the World Cup so have included Javeria Khan to utilize her in the T20I format and I hope she performs and helps the team to achieve victories.”
Ireland captain Laura Delany said:
“We are looking forward to a fresh start and very much looking forward to tomorrow’s game. The series provides a brilliant opportunity for us to play more T20Is.
“We have worked on a few things in the last game which we played here. We have not capitalized much on wicket-taking opportunities, and will try to rectify that ahead of the T20I series. We are focused on trying to execute our plans well on the field.
“The players besides cricket are having a great time over here in Pakistan, the arrangements made for the team here are great and we are thankful to the PCB.”
Pakistan T20I squad:
Bismah Maroof (c), Aimen Anwar, Aliya Riaz, Ayesha Naseem, Fatima Sana, Ghulam Fatima, Javeria Khan, Kainat Imtiaz, Muneeba Ali (wk), Nida Dar, Omaima Sohail, Nashra Sandhu, Sadaf Shamas, Sidra Amin and Umm-e-Hani
Ireland T20I squad:
Laura Delany (c), Amy Hunter, Arlene Kelly, Cara Murray, Celeste Raack, Eimear Richardson, Gaby Lewis, Jane Maguire, Leah Paul, Louise Little, Mary Waldron, Orla Prendergast, Rebecca Stokell, Shauna Kavanagh and Sophie MacMahon
