Pakistan women’s all-rounder Syed Aroob Shah expressed optimism on Tuesday as the team gears up for their must-win clash against England in the ICC Women’s World Cup. Following three consecutive defeats, including a heavy loss to Australia, Pakistan’s hopes of progressing to the knockout stage now hinge on their ability to turn things around quickly — starting with their batting.
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In their last game, Pakistan struggled once again with the bat as Australia’s Beth Mooney smashed a brilliant century to guide her team to a 107-run victory. Aroob acknowledged the team’s shortcomings but assured that the players are working hard to improve. “We’re working hard in the nets, and our main focus is for our batters to fight as much as possible on the ground,” she said. “It’s very important for us to post a big total — around 200+ — because that will increase our chances of winning. We’re working on this, and hopefully, in the next match, you’ll see us perform better.”
So far in the tournament, Pakistan have yet to cross the 200-run mark, a worrying trend in a competition that has seen high-scoring encounters from most other teams. Aroob emphasized that the team understands the importance of adapting quickly and showing resilience.
When asked whether playing all matches at the same venue provided an advantage, the 21-year-old spinner said it ultimately comes down to performance. “Yes, we do have the advantage of playing at the same venue for all matches, but other teams are also coming well-prepared. So, that point isn’t very valid anymore. We’ll only get the benefit of the venue when we play good cricket,” she said confidently.
Despite their poor start, Aroob maintained that the team’s morale remains high and that they still believe in their ability to make a comeback. “The tournament is still open, and we have full hope. Some teams lose their first few matches and then come back strongly — we believe we can do the same,” she added. “We’ll take each match as it comes, play well, and try to win all four remaining games to stay in the tournament.”
Pakistan’s campaign began with disappointing defeats to Bangladesh and India, followed by the crushing loss to Australia. Their batting has lacked consistency, while their bowling, though impressive in patches, has struggled to finish innings strongly. Fielding lapses have also contributed to their position at the bottom of the points table.
Heading into the clash against an unbeaten England side, Pakistan’s batting lineup — including opener Muneeba Ali — faces immense pressure to deliver. Muneeba, who entered the tournament in good form, has failed to provide strong starts, leaving the middle order with too much to do.
England, on the other hand, have been dominant with three consecutive wins. All-rounder Alice Capsey acknowledged Pakistan’s fighting spirit, saying, “I think what we’ve seen by Pakistan so far is that they’ve been involved in some really exciting games of cricket, and they’ve had teams kind of on the back burner a little bit.” She added that England’s strategy involves preparing specific plans for each of Pakistan’s bowlers to maintain their winning momentum.
As Pakistan prepare for their pivotal showdown, the focus will be on translating Aroob Shah’s optimism into performance. With four matches remaining, the Green Shirts will need discipline, confidence, and a strong batting display to keep their World Cup dreams alive.
