Big boost for us to see men`s team doing well: Sana

Karachi: Sana Mir, the captain of the Pakistan women`s team that will take part in the ICC World Cup in Mumbai later this month, is hopeful that they would be able to replicate the performance of their male counterparts in the ongoing series in India.

"It is a big boost for us to see the men`s team doing so well in India and winning the series today in Kolkata. I am pretty hopeful our team is also capable of giving winning performances in India," she said. Sana has been leading the Pakistan side since 2011. "We know each other very well and we communicate very well and that is our strong point. The good thing is that the Pakistan Cricket Board has given us a lot of exposure by sending us abroad for international events and also by organising regular domestic tournaments. "I feel our`s is the best prepared women`s side to have ever gone to an ICC tournament from Pakistan," she said. The PCB recently announced the 15-member women`s squad that includes mostly tried and tested players. Besides Sana, the other players in the squad are Nain Fatima Abidi, Bismah Maroof, Nida Rashid, Javeria Wadood, Sidra Amin, Rabia Shah, Batool Fatima, Asmavia Iqbal, Qanita Jalil, Sumaiya Siddiqui, Sadia Yousuf, Elizabeth Barkat, Nahida Bibi, Diana Baig. Sana said the players training for the World Cup, have been following the ongoing series in India very closely. "Our coach said we can learn a lot from just watching the matches and the way our national team has played in India, it has also given us lot of confidence for the World Cup," she said. The Pakistan women`s team had scored a win over India in the women`s World T20 last October in Sri Lanka, and Sana said that has given the players a lot of confidence. "We knew after that win just how much value a win over India carries in any sport for Pakistanis," she added. Pakistan`s former captain, Javed Miandad has also been helping the team prepare for the World Cup. PTI