During the fourth match of ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2023 between India Women and Pakistan Women in Cape Town, Pakistan captain Bismah Maroof has won the toss and chose to bat in the hope of putting on board a formidable innings total.
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“We’d like to bat first. It is a dry wicket [and] won’t change much. So, we’d like to put up a total. We have the confidence because we won against India last time [during Women’s Asia Cup 2022] but conditions are different here,” Maroof told Star Sports Network at the toss.
Pakistan have made a couple of changes to their Playing XI from the last T20I against Australia in Hobart last month. Batter Sidra Ameen and spinner Nashra Sandhu are playing this match in place of all-rounder Omaina Sohail and spinner Tuba Hassan.
“It is unlucky she [Diana Baig] is not here with us but this is an opportunity for someone else to perform,” Maroof said with respect to pacer Diana Baig out of the World Cup due to a fractured finger.
Why is Smriti Mandhana not playing today vs Pakistan?
Much like her counterpart, India captain Harmanpreet Kaur wanted to bat first as well. However, having lost the toss, Kaur laid emphasis on “batting well” in a run-chase.
“We wanted to bat because these wickets are a bit tricky. We are a very good bowling side. Our bowlers performed well in the [South Africa T20I] tri-series before as well,” Kaur told Star Sports Network at the toss.
India, meanwhile, have made three changes to their Playing XI from the final match of the triangular series in East London. Vice-captain Smriti Mandhana and all-rounders Devika Vaidya and Sneh Rana have been replaced by batter Shafali Verma, wicket-keeper batter Richa Ghosh and spinner Radha Yadav.
Mandhana, India’s highest T20I run-scorer against Pakistan among active cricketers, not part of this marquee contest is a colossal blow for the team. The 26-year old player is yet to recover from a finger injury but is likely to take part in the next match against West Indies Women at the same venue on Wednesday.
“She [Smriti Mandhana] will be fine [for the second match] but we have added an extra batter [Harleen Deol] for today,” Kaur said.
