Pakistan bowler Rameen Shamim expressed optimism on Monday ahead of the crucial ICC Women’s World Cup match against South Africa, acknowledging that while the monsoon rains in Colombo were beyond their control, the team remained determined to secure a semi-final spot. The Green Shirts’ campaign has been disrupted by washouts against England and New Zealand, which cost them valuable points in their bid to reach the last four.
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Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Rameen said, “Rain is not in our control. Unfortunately, we are upset because we were up to the mark against England. But we are confident because we played some good cricket in the last two matches. Now we have to focus on South Africa and Sri Lanka.”
The off-spinner highlighted that Pakistan’s recent series against South Africa in Lahore provided valuable preparation. Although the home series ended with a 2-1 defeat, the final ODI victory gave the team insights into handling the Proteas on spin-friendly tracks. Pakistan also faced South Africa in a World Cup practice match in Colombo, which the visitors won by four wickets, offering further lessons ahead of the Tuesday clash.
Pitch conditions at the R. Premadasa Stadium have favored seamers early in the innings but tend to offer turn as games progress. Rameen noted that the team would be looking for a pitch similar to Lahore to exploit their spin options. “We just want to win those upcoming matches and leave our mark,” she added, emphasizing focus and determination despite weather disruptions.
South African pacer Masabata Klaas acknowledged Pakistan’s strengths ahead of the match. “Pakistan is a strong team. We cannot just walk in expecting an easy game. The key for us is to stick to basics and continue what we’ve been doing from day one of the World Cup,” she said, signaling that the Proteas would not underestimate their opponents.
For Pakistan, skipper Fatima Sana’s form with the ball has been a significant positive. The right-arm pacer has taken nine wickets at an impressive average of 16, providing the Green Shirts with a reliable strike option. However, the team’s batting needs to fire after a stop-start innings against New Zealand, which saw them collapse to 92-5 with much of their batting still to come.
Practice sessions have also been affected by the ongoing rain, forcing the team to move indoors to an alternate venue near the Sinhalese Sports Club. Despite the challenges, Pakistan remains focused on improving their batting performance and making the most of the remaining matches, hoping for favorable results elsewhere to secure a semi-final berth.
A combination of improved batting, consistent bowling, and a bit of weather luck will be crucial if the Green Shirts are to overcome the odds and keep their World Cup semi-final hopes alive.
