Pakistan national women's cricket team

The Pakistani women's cricket team is the team that represents the country of Pakistan in international women's cricket matches.

History

1990s

The Pakistan women's team did not appear in international cricket until a tour of New Zealand and Australia in early 1997. They lost all three ODIs on that tour, but were still invited to take part in the World Cup later that year in India. They lost all five games in the tournament, and finished last out of the eleven teams in the competition. The following year, Pakistan toured Sri Lanka, playing three ODIs, losing them all, and their first test match, which they also lost.

2000s

In 2000, Pakistan toured Ireland for a 5 match ODI series, and to play in Ireland's first ever Test match. They lost the Test by an innings inside two days, and the ODI series 4-0, with one rained off. Their first international win, in their 19th match, came against The Netherlands in a seven match ODI series a home in 2001, a series which they won 4-3. This form did not continue into their six ODI tour of Sri Lanka in January 2002 though, and they again lost all six matches.

In 2003, Pakistan travelled to the Netherlands to take part in the Women's Cricket World Cup Qualifier torunament, then known as the IWCC Trophy. They finished fourth in the tournament, their only wins coming against Japan and Scotland, missing out on qualification for the 2005 World Cup. This tournament was marred by a schism between the Pakistan Women's Cricket Control Association and the Pakistan Cricket Board. The IWCC did not recognise the PCB as the governing body of women's cricket in Pakistan, and court cases were brought in Pakistan. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/124222.html] The PCB announced that they would not be sending a team to the tournament and that no other team should be allowed to represent the country in the competition. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/128815.html] This problem has since been overcome with the ICCs requirement that women's associations and men's associations are unified under one single governing body.

2004 saw the West Indies tour Pakistan, playing seven ODIs and a Test match. The test match was drawn and West Indies won the ODI series 5-2, but those two victories for Pakistan were their first against a Test playing nation.

In 2005 an Indian Under 21 team toured Pakistan, becoming the first Indian women's side to tour the country. This paved the way for Pakistan to host the second Women's Asia Cup in December 2005/January 2006. They lost all their games however, finishing last in the three team tournament. The tournament featured the first match between the Indian and Pakistani women's cricket teams.

Cricket is currently seen as a big step forward for women's rights in the largely conservative Islamic republic. When sisters Shaiza and Sharmeen Khan first tried to introduce women's cricket in 1996, they were met with court cases and even death threats. The government refused them permission to play India in 1997, and ruled that women were forbidden from playing sports in public. Things have changed, although players have to follow a strict dress code, and male spectators are banned from the grounds. [http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/219995.html] The ban on male spectators is largely to prevent an ugly incident such as that which marred a mixed marathon in Lahore in 2005. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4566879.stm]

Early in 2007, South Africa will tour Pakistan for a five match ODI series. Later in the year, Pakistan will travel to Ireland to play in the Women's World Cup Qualifier, where they will play the hosts in addition to Bermuda, The Netherlands, Papua New Guinea, Scotland, South Africa, and an African qualifier. They qualified for this tournament after beating Hong Kong in a three match series at home in September 2006.

Tournament History

=World Cup=

*1973 to 1993: Did not participate
*1997: 11th place
*2000: Did not participate
*2005: Did not qualify

=Asia Cup=

*2004: Withdrew
*2005: 3rd place

Records

Test cricket

*Highest team total: 426/7 declared v West Indies, 15 March 2004 at National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
*Highest individual score: 242, Kiran Baluch v West Indies, 15 March 2004 at National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
*Best innings bowling: 7/59, Shaiza Khan v West Indies, 15 March 2004 at National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
*Best match bowling: 13/226, Shaiza Khan v West Indies, 15 March 2004 at National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan

ODI cricket

*Highest team total: 208/5 v Netherlands, 14 April 2001 at National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
*Highest individual score: 69, Mahewish Khan v Netherlands, 14 April 2001 at National Stadium, Karachi, Pakistan
*Best innings bowling: 7/4, Sajjida Shah v Japan, 21 July 2003 at Amsterdam, Netherlands

ee also

* Pakistan men's cricket team