April 12, 2025: As the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2025 heats up, Pakistan has emerged as one of the in-form teams, notching two wins in two matches — against Ireland and Scotland. With a pivotal clash against West Indies on the horizon, skipper Fatima Sana emphasized composure and collective effort as key to Pakistan’s campaign success.
Speaking after Pakistan’s six-wicket win over Scotland, Sana said her team is focusing on building steady batting partnerships and handling high-pressure situations with more poise. “We’ll try to be calm and easy in partnerships because in situations like these, teams tend to buckle under pressure. We’ll cope with it better and will keep working on it, as the future games will bring greater pressure and intensity,” she said, according to ICC.
Pakistan, the host nation for the qualifiers, opened their tournament with a 38-run win over Ireland before outclassing Scotland. Their strong start has come from collective contributions across the lineup, rather than reliance on individual brilliance.
The qualifier, running from April 9 to 19 in Lahore, features six teams — Pakistan, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Scotland, and Thailand — all vying for the two coveted spots in the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup 2025, to be held in India later this year.
Sana, who returned to the field after dealing with an injury, made a strong impact with the ball, especially in the death overs. She believes her bowling display will inspire both her personal form and the team’s confidence heading into the tougher games ahead.
“It was a tough situation due to injury, but I performed well. The team will get confidence along with myself. So I’m hoping for more good things to come,” Sana added.
Pakistan’s next test comes on Monday, April 14, against the West Indies — a match that could play a crucial role in determining their World Cup qualification fate.