2022 is the goal now: Jhulan Goswami resets target following World Cup postponement

Following the International Cricket Council's decision to postpone the Women's World Cup by 12 months, Jhulan Goswami, the veteran fast bowler, said that while that tournament is her ultimate aim, she will reassess her goals after every series.

On Friday (August 7), the ICC announced their decision to postpone the mega event scheduled to be held in New Zealand in February-March next year after several teams raised concerns about lack of preparation time due to the COVID-19-related restrictions.

"Yes, 2022 is the goal now but you have to be part of the process and play matches consistently and perform and then you can think about the World Cup because there is a lot of time left and it is not round the corner anymore," Goswami told Press Trust of India.

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"We have got a lot of time for preparation, almost 18 months, but on the other hand, it would have been good if it happened next year as I was focused on that for long. Now you will need to think beyond that. At this time, I can only think about the next series and performing in it and start from zero. I can't tell you what may happen between now and 2022 as it is still far way."

Goswami, the highest wicket-taker in ODIs, had for a long time said the World Cup next year was what was keeping her motivated through this period of uncertainty. While she admitted the change in plan would force a change in her approach, she added that she agreed with the ICC's decision.

"With the current Covid-19 situation, the preparation was held up," she said. "If you are going to the World Cup you have to be prepared. You have lot of things going in the mind, combinations and ideas and you need time to try them."

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"On that front, we will get enough time to prepare but if Covid-19 hadn't happened, we would have played the World Cup timely and it would have been better for us. Having said that, we respect the decision taken by the authorities. It would have not been easy to create a bio-bubble for eight teams, hopefully there will be a vaccine soon."

Goswami will be 39 by the time the tournament rolls around in 2022. Having retired from T20Is in 2018, she last played an international in November 2019 against West Indies. Since then, she turned out for Bengal in the domestic one-day tournament in February-March, but has not bowled since the lockdown commenced. With the BCCI having announced a Women's T20 Challenge and a potential series against South Africa before that, Goswami is itching to start bowling again.

"At this moment, it is about getting access to the ground, hopefully we will have a camp in September before the Women''s T20 Challenge, which is the next assignment we have. I have not been bowling at all. It is difficult in my surroundings as I live in a colony. I have been regular with fitness. Plus, the monsoons are also here and the ground is not available," she concluded.

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