LAHORE: Javeria Khan, the Pakistan Women captain in the absence of Bismah Maroof, has said the team needed to work on their “mental toughness” ahead of the clashes against Bangladesh and Australia, reported ICC.
Khan, 30, will take over captaincy duties after Maroof was sidelined following a surgery for her sinus problem.
When the veteran, who has so far played 88 one-day internationals and 75 Twenty20 Internationals, was asked what the team needed to work on most, she told Women’s Criczone: “If we try and build our mental toughness, I am sure the results will be in our favour,” and added that Pakistan were more than a match for the big teams, but faltered when it mattered most.
However, the team management, comprising Mark Coles, the head coach from New Zealand who was appointed after Pakistan’s poor ICC Women’s World Cup 2017 campaign, and Andy Richards, the batting consultant from Australia, have ensured “a calm atmosphere” and “a completely new environment”.
“Because of them, the burden on us has been reduced,” said Khan. “They define our roles well. For instance, when I am batting, I do not need to worry about anything else because they can handle that domain themselves.
“What is admirable about them is that even in the negative, they will talk about the positive first.”
Pakistan will play four T20Is against Bangladesh, starting with the first one at Cox’s Bazar on Monday, 2 October, before a one-off ODI. They will then play three ICC Women’s Championship ODIs and as many T20Is against Australia in Kuala Lumpur, starting from 18 October.
