The countdown has already begun to the WHITE FERNS’ next series, which starts next week.
The players are back from South Africa, taking a few days’ rest before yet another bilateral series first — Pakistan taking on Suzie Bates’s champs in five ODIs and a Twenty20 International, the series starting at Lincoln’s Bert Sutcliffe Oval and then moving to Saxton Oval in Nelson for the final two ODIs and T20i.
All matches are free entry, and this Sunday Pakistan will also play a warm-up match against Canterbury, which is being co-captained this year by Amy Satterthwaite and Frances Mackay.
Double internationals Sophie Devine and Liz Perry will both be back for the WHITE FERNS after missing the South African adventures, while for the visitors, after having been roundly thumped by England's women in July, Pakistan’s selectors have had a reshuffle and recalled 24-year-old batsman Aliya Riaz and 21-year-old seamer Diana Baig for the tour — Riaz best known for producing an unbeaten 106 in a T20 against USA last year.
Pakistan’s full squad: Sana Mir (ODI captain), Bismah Maroof (T20I captain), Javeria Khan, Asmavia Iqbal, Nida Dar, Anam Amin, Sadia Yousuf, Maham Tariq, Nain Abidi, Nahida Khan, Ayesha Zafar, Sidra Nawaz, Aliya Riaz, Iram Javed, Diana Baig.
The Series shapes as an important one for the big picture — it’s the last opportunity for teams to secure 2017 ICC Women’s World Cup direct entry by finishing in the top four of the IWC table.
The WHITE FERNS are currently in fourth spot, and theoretically could finish as high as second — Australia having already claimed the top spot with a round to spare.
No matter what, at the very least the WHITE FERNS need to cement that fourth position to avoid detouring to the February 2017 Qualifying Tournament in Colombo. Pakistan is meanwhile currently seventh, but with other world teams in action as well in this final IWC round, there’s no comfort for anyone until the points are on the board.
The last three ODIs of the five-match ODI Series have been designated as the IWC points matches.
Tour schedule
