Javeria Khan hopes for an improved show from Pakistan

Pakistan have played every T20 World Cup but are yet to proceed beyond the group stages. Javeria Khan, the experienced Pakistan batter, believed that her team is closing the gap when it comes to their game-play vis a vis top teams.

“The ICC have done this tremendously well with the introduction of the ICC Women’s Championship,” she said. “Now, we are playing big teams and that’s why we’re gradually improving. We would come to World Cups to play India and Australia with no experience of facing them outside tournaments. How could we grow?”

Pakistan have named a fairly young unit for the T20 World Cup 2020 and head into an ICC tournament for the first time without Sana Mir. Khan also said that the players in her side have improved their mentality and now believe that they can beat the likes of Australia and England as well. “We have the talent, we just have to manage pressure at crucial times. There is a golden chance that we can reach the semi-finals,” she added.

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Traditionally, Pakistan haven’t been the best when it comes to fielding. That resulted in them losing out on close games. However, they had a good run in 2019, tying the series against South Africa away from home while beating Bangladesh at home. In order to improve on their fielding, they underwent a conditional camp for ten days.

“The improvement is not dramatic, but we are growing gradually in the field,” said Khan, who will make her seventh T20 World Cup appearance. “We have fielded better in the last year, compared to how we used to. Fielding turns the game. We have grown and there will be improvement in our unit. If we want to win, we have to field well and the girls must realise this.”

Apart from Pakistan, Sri Lanka are the only other team to not make it past the group stage of the tournament. Will Pakistan be able to change the record in 2020?