Pakistan can perform well against England: Nida Dar

KARACHI: Although Pakistan women are ranked fifth on the ICC Women’s Championship points table, Nida Dar believes that Pakistan can perform well against second-placed England women in the three-ODI series, which provides them with a crucial opportunity to secure direct qualification for the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup to be played in New Zealand in 2021.

Pakistan are banking on their senior players to write history in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, come December 9 when the much-anticipated series begins. And, one of the players the Pakistan women’s team will look up to is Nida Dar.

The bowling all-rounder has played 167 internationals. Her ability to lift the team in crucial moments helped her become the first Pakistan cricketer to bag a WBBL contract this year when she turned out for Sydney Thunder and left an impression with her off-spin.

“It has been a great experience to be part of WBBL and there were a lot of learnings which I have and will continue to share with our captain Bismah Maroof,” Nida told pcb.com.pk on the side-lines of the team training session at Kinrara Oval, where the three-match series will be staged.

“The first and foremost is that we need to learn how to adjust to the changing conditions in the match. “There isn’t much of a difference between the English and the Pakistani sides. There is not much of a difference in the skill set. We are looking to work on the mental aspect of the game because in international cricket one needs to be mentally tough to thrive.

“On the day, whichever side plays the best will win,” she said. Pakistan are yet to register a win against England in ODIs. The two sides have come head-to-head eight times, the last being in 2017, and Nida has been involved in five of those matches.