As the Women’s Asia Cup approaches in the UAE, Pakistan captain Fatima Sana has emphasized a tournament-wide focus for her squad. Rather than fixating on any single opponent, Sana intends for her team to maintain consistent intensity throughout the competition. Pakistan, placed in Group A alongside India, Thailand, Hong Kong, and China, has been refining its approach by reviewing shortcomings from previous series to avoid repeating past errors.
Sana noted that the team’s preparations are progressing well and highlighted the squad’s familiarity with Dubai’s playing conditions as a potential strategic advantage. The captain also reflected on her recent experience playing in England’s The Hundred, where she became the first Pakistani woman to participate in the tournament. She described the stint as a significant milestone that provided valuable exposure against high-quality international opposition.
Simultaneously, Bangladesh captain Nigar Sultana Joty is focused on breaking her team’s long-standing semi-final jinx. After multiple exits at the penultimate stage in previous tournaments, Joty is determined to reach the final this time. “We have played in the semi-finals before and then been knocked out. The same thing has happened repeatedly, so we want to break that barrier this time,” she stated.
Bangladesh, which is scheduled to depart for the UAE on Tuesday, faces a challenging path in Group B against defending champions Sri Lanka, the UAE, and Indonesia. To prepare, the team has engaged in several practice matches, including two held in Sri Lanka to help players acclimate to the environment. “Preparation-wise, I think it has been very good,” Joty remarked, noting that the team’s readiness has been bolstered by these sessions.
The Bangladesh skipper identified the group stage as a critical phase for their campaign. “The group-stage matches are very important because if we can become group champions, we will not have to face India in the semi-final,” she explained. Bangladesh’s tournament schedule begins on August 31 against Indonesia, followed by matches against Sri Lanka on September 6 and the UAE on September 8.
Beyond the Asia Cup, Joty is looking ahead to the Asian Games, where the team aims to improve on their previous record. Having secured silver in 2010 and bronze in 2022, the squad is hungry for a top-tier finish. “There are a lot of expectations from our team. We want to bring home a medal, and if it is gold, that would be even bigger. We will certainly try to do that,” she added. The report also notes that after reaching the semi-finals several times without advancing to the final, Joty believes Bangladesh must finally overcome the hurdle this time. The report also notes that uAE fans set for blockbuster India-Pakistan clash.
Source: Gulf News
